IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


A 


f4^ 


1.0 


I.I 


liS 


121    12.5 


|50     


K 


■  40 


2.2 
2.0 


1.8 


1.25   ||U     |i.6 

^ — 

6"     

► 

s^ 


vl 


7 


'^wV 


/» 


<^ 


>s 


y 


Photographic 

Sdences 

Corporation 


23  ^VrST  MAIN  STRiET 

WEBiTER.N.Y.  M5S0 

(716)  872-4503 


-«S>' 


-^^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVr/JCMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filniing.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


n 


n 


n 
n 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommag^e 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^e  et/ou  pellicul6e 


□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


D 


Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relid  avec  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

Le  reliure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possibl^^,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  M  film^es. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl6mentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meillour  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m6thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

□    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

r~~j    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


D 
D 
D 


Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pellicul^es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxei 
Pages  ddcniordes,  tachet6es  ou  pinu^es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 

Showthrough> 
Transparence 


rTlf  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
I      I    Pages  detached/ 
r~p\    Showthrough/ 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Quality  indgale  de  Timpression 


Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  film^es  i  nouveau  de  fa^on  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


Tl 
to 


Tl 

P' 

o\ 
fll 


O 
b< 
tt\ 
■i< 
oi 
fii 
sii 
oi 


Tl 
s^ 
Tl 
w 

M 
di 
er 
bt 

rl| 
re 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmd  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

J. 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


itaiis 
i  du 
odifier 
'  une 
mage 


Th«  copy  filfn«d  h«r«  hat  bMn  r«produc«d  thanks 
to  tha  ganaroaity  of: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
posalbia  consldaring  tha  condition  and  laglblllty 
of  tha  original  copy  and  In  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spaclflcations. 


Original  coplas  in  printad  papar  covars  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
slon.  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriota.  All 
othar  original  coplas  arj  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion,  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illustratad  imprassion. 


Tha  last  racordad  frama  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  tha  symbol  — »>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc..  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Thosa  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  ara  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaira  film*  fut  raproduit  grica  I  '-.: 
ginArosltA  da: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Lea  imagaa  auivantas  ont  At*  raproduites  avac  la 
plus  grand  soln.  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nattet*  de  l'exemplaira  film*,  et  en 
conformit*  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmaga. 

Les  exemplairas  origmaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  ImprimAe  sont  filmAs  en  commenpant 
par  la  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
darnlAre  paga  qui  comporta  une  empreinta 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  les  autras  exemplairas 
originaux  sont  filmAs  en  commengant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustratior  at  en  terminant  par 
la  derniAre  pege  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
darniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — »•  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ".  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  Atre 
film«s  A  des  taux  da  reduction  diff«rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  il  est  film*  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite. 
et  de  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


}rrata 
to 


pelure, 
in  A 


n 

32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

t'^jf^ 


HO 


IN 


SPEECH 


OF 


HON.  J.  D.  CUMMINS,  OF  OHIO, 


ON 


THE  OREGON  QUESTION. 


DELIVERED 


IN  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES,  SATURDAY,  FEBRUARY  7,  1846. 


WASHINGTON: 

Printed  at  the  office  of  blair  and  rives. 

1846. 


Ouoe 


THE    OREGON    QUESTION 


I 


T'tie  Rcaolution  for  tcrmin.ilinf:  the  Joint  occu- 
|irin<y  of  Orc;;on  !)<!ii)<i;  mi(l<r  ronHuicration  in 
('ommittce  of  t!ie  Whole  House — 

Mr.  CUMMINS  addressed  the  committee  as 
follows: 

Mr.  CiiAinMAN:  The  resnlulinn  rrportcd  by  the 
''ommittce  on  Foreign  Ilrlatinns,  nnd  now  under 
'■ojisidoniiion,  involves  one  very  plain  and  distinct 
proposition:  Shall  we,  or  shall  we  not,  f^ive  to  Great 
Britain  tiic  twelve  months'  notice,  provided  for  by 
the  iil  article  of  the  convention  of  1827,  to  termi- 
(ifitc  tiie  joint  use  «f  the  two  countries  in  the  Ore- 
f.'on  territory?  The  rii^ht  tr)  2;ive  tliis  notice  is  not 
denied;  it  is  n  part  of  the  convention  itself;  hut 
the  policy  and  expediency  of  ^riviiif;  it  now,  and 
the  form  in  which  it  shall  be  ;^iven,  if  given  at  all, 
crtnstitute  the  grounds  of  the  present  discussion 
and  differences  of  opinion. 

The  wide  range  which  has  been  given  to  this 
<lebate,  and  the  momentous  consequences  which 
have  lieen  so  fearfully  and  eloquently  predicted  and 
[lortrayed  by  gentlemen  who  oppose  the  resolu- 
tion, if  we  can  believe  them  to  be  sincere  in  what 
thfy  .say,  should  at  least  admonish  the  friends  of 
fhi.s  measure  to  give  to  it  that  careful  and  candid 
fonsideration  which  its  importance  demands,  be- 
fore it  is  adopted.  If  the  giving  of  this  notice  will 
le^d  to  an  equitable  and  final  adjustment  of  the 
rights  and  claims  of  the  two  Governments  in  Ore- 
gon, and  the  establishment  of  their  territorial  boun- 
daries there — as  I  hope  and  believe  it  will — then 
sir,  the  sooner  it  is  given,  the  better.  Most  ques- 
tionn  diBcussed  and  passed  upon  in  this  Chamber, 

1  ^'O.^'dl 


arc  of  a  domestic  character,  affecting  only  the 
rights  and  interests  of  our  own  people.  They 
arc  also  of  a  temporary  character,  for  the  acts  of 
one  Congress  can  be  altered  or  repealed  by  the 
next,  as  the  friends  of  this  or  that  cour.sc  of  policy 
may  be  in  power.  Not  so  with  Oregon.  It  is 
stri'-tly  a  national  question,  between  two  separate 
and  independent  sovereignties;  it  is  a  territorial 
question,  and  therefore  preeminent  and  lasting  in 
its  n.iture;  for,  sir,  the  lines  once  run,  the  strikes 
driven,  and  the  monuments  erected  there,  they  must 
unalterably  remain  as  the  landmarks  of  division 
between  the  Republic  and  the  Monarchy,  the  citi- 
zen and  the  subject,  the  hereditary  sceptre  and  the 
ballot-box. 

Mr.  Chairman,  the  remarks  which  1  shall  make 
on  this  subject  will,  in  part,  be  in  reply  to  the  argu- 
ments of  the  gentleman  from  South  Carolina,  [Mr. 
Tloi.MEs,]  who  appears  to  mo  to  be  the  standard- 
bearer  of  the  opposition,  and  the  defender  of  the 
faith  of  *^  masterly  inarlirily''  in  this  end  of  the 
Capitol.  In  my  judgment,  he  hasassuiiied  as  bold, 
strong,  and  untenable  ground.^  in  favor  of  the  claims 
and  pretensions  of  Britain,  and  against  the  rights 
of  the  United  States  in  Oirgon,  as  has  the  British 
Ministry,  or  any  of  her  diplomatic  agents  or  politi- 
cal journals  assumed,  since  this  question  first  came 
under  di.icussion  between  the  two  Govemmenta. 
In  his  argument,  that  gentleman  propounds  im- 
portant inquiries:  Where  is  Oregon? — What  's  i^' 
— Of  what  value  is  it  to  us?  I  do  not  suppose  that 
the  gentleman  is  a  disciple  of  Diogenes,  and  now 
for  the  first  time  has  emerged  from  his  philosophic 


till),  to  lif'liolil  mill  ciintrniiiliUc  Or(;;()n.  N<>,  sir. 
Orcfjnii  is  to  him  an  old,  niiil,  iim  would  now  apiu'iir, 
nil  iiiiwc'lcoino  iiciniiiiniaiici'. 

I'ut,  .sir,  wliciv  i.s  On  i^on,  and  wliat  is  it?  On;- 
pnii  i.H  llial  part  of  llir  rs'oriii  Antciii'aii  continoir 
\vliifli  iit'S  iiciwfci)  til';  iMrxii'iin  line,  on  iIk;  4:2(1 
parallel  of  iiorlli  liitimdf,  and  the  ISiiwsian  Imp,  on 
the  parallt'I  of.)}"  '10'  north  laiiiudi;.  It  i.s  hoimilcd 
on  the  W('!*t  by  the  I'licifir  ocraii,  and  on  the  ta.st 
by  the  Riiiky  Mouniains — upon  whieh  iine  it  i.s, 
the  greater  part  of  liir  way,  (loieriniiiou.s  with  the 
other  territories  of  the  United  Suites.  It  enilmiee.s 
nhoiit  nine  huiidn  d  inile.s  of  the  western  coa.st  of 
tiiis  coiitiiu'iit  horderiii^  on  the  I'aeifie  oicaii,  is 
<:f  nil  averau'e  width  ot' ahoiit  six  liimdred  miles, 
niid  contains  nhout  four  hundred  thoitsand  sr]uare 
niile.s  of  territory.  In  extent,  it  enilirares  more 
territory  tiiai)  the  "Old  Thirteen  Stairs''  on  the 
Atl.intic  .slojie.  Its  elimati'  is  nmeh  niihh'r,  and 
more  genial  than  the  <limaic  in  the  .same  lati- 
tude on  the  Atlantic;  its  soil  is  t'ertilr.  il.s  streams 
pure,  its  forests  are  aluindaiilly  supplied  with 
the  choicest  timl)i;r;  and,  in  short,  it  possrsst  s 
the  elements  of  a  gre:it  and  valuaiile  country. 
If  wc  do  our  duty  in  preserving  and  luainlam- 
iiig  our  just  rights  ihrre,  Oregon  is  tiestined  to 
be  the  home  of  millions  of  luijipy  and  prosper- 
ous freemen,  whose  Ialjor.'<  will  he  rewarded  by 
•  he  exuberant  fertility  of  its  valleys,  and  whose 
llocks  and  herds  will  f<ed  upon  its  ihousaud  liilU. 
A.s  a  means  of  our  military  del"enee,  it.  is  a  tower 
of  strength,  boili  by  land  and  s<'a.  It  skirls  one 
whole  fwnt  of  this  Re|.ul)!ic,  and  hems  us  in  on 
the  west,  and  entirely  shiit.s  us  out  from  the  Piicific. 
It  (Virnishes  a!)undaiit  .'supplies  of  timber,  of  which 
to  construct  navies,  and  ^reat,  capacious,  and  safe 
bays  nnd  harbors,  in  which  they  can  float  in  safe- 
ty. To  any  country  possessing  skill,  industry, 
nnd  enterprise,  the  possession  of  Oregon  will  give 
the  military  ami  ni.irine  control  and  .sujvremncy  of 
the  Pacific  ocean  and  its  islands,  of  China,  the  i 
East  Indies,  and  the  western  const  of  South  Ame- 
rica. 

Should  Oregon  fall  into  the  hands  of  Britain, 
what  security  svould   ymi   have  on   your  wesiini 
frontier.''    What  wouKl  become  of  your  exlensive 
nnd  valuidjh  whale  fislurics  in  'he  Pacific.'    What 
would  become  of  your  Cliiiia  trade,  now  ,so  pros- 
perously carried  on,  and  yearly  iiicresising.-    llow 
would  you  resi.sl  iht;  milit-ary  control  that  IJriiain 
would  necessarily  exercise  over  Mexico,  California, 
GuRtcmala,  Chili,  Peru,  the  whole  western  coapt  of 
South  America,  the  S'luili  Sen  isinnds,  nnd  the  fn- 
diaii  tribes.'  Sir,  you  v.-oiild  be  compelled  to  abandon 
the  whole  to  her  dominion  and  power.     But,  sir, 
of  whnt  value  is  Oregon  to  us  in  a  commercial  point 
of  view.'    In  my  judgment,  it  is  more  important  to 
our  commercial  interests  than  any  acquisition  we 
have  ever  heretofore  made  or  can  ever  hereafter 
make.     There  is  not  liow  any  maritime  nation  in 
the  successful  possession  or  enjoyment  of  any  part 
of  the  Pacific  coast  from  Bhering's  Slrait.i  to  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.     The  whole  remains   yet 
coini>arntivcly  unoccupied  .ind  open  to  the  first  na- 
tion that  may  secure  it.     Look  upon  your  mni)s, 
and  what  is  our  po.sition  with  icfi  r(  nee  to  tnat 
quarter  of  the  globe?    This  continent  lies  between 
Uie  Atlantic  and  Pacific  oceans:  it  lies  nearly  equi- 
distant and  in  the  direct  route  between  the  continent 


of  F.urope  nnd  .^sia;  and  across  this  continent  at 
the  same  point  must  and  will  ere  long  be  carried 
the  trade  and  merchandise  pns.sing  between  Euro|)e 
and  yVsia.  Let  us,  then,  .siciire  our  just  ri!,'hts  in 
Ores;on,  and  our  territory  will  t  xtend  acro.ss  thi.'i 
coniinent,  from  sea  to  sea:  on  the  east  wiihio  ihn c 
thousand  miles  of  Iviropc,  on  thj'  wchI  within  foiii 
thousanil  mile.s  of  Asia.  We  h.ive  now  the  com 
mand  of  the  coast  on  the  (jnlf  of  Mexico,  the  Al- 
laiilic  fnun  the  llio  CJraiide  to  tlie  St.  John's,  ;» 
distance  of  more  than  twelve  hundred  miles.  l]\ 
rivers  and  lakes  we  have  water  communication 
along  our  northern  and  northeastern  borders  foi- 
IwcKe  hundred  iniles.  Oiei:iui  will  jivc^  us  the; 
command  of  iiiii<;  hundred  miles  of  the  Pacific 
coasts,  and  will  enable  us  to  command  the  com- 
merc(!  of  that  ocenn. 

liCt  Government  but  do  its  duty,  let  it  quiet  our 
title  to  Oregon,  and  (xlend  our  lasvs  and  jurisdic- 
tion over  tiiat  country  for  the  protection  of  our  set- 
tlers there,  and  the  industry  and  energy  of  the 
pioneers  will!  will  make  their  homes  in  the  Colum- 
bia valley  will  do  the  rest;  they  will  subdue  the 
fi>re.Hi.s  and  convert  them  into  harvest  fields;  they 
will  (lot  the  faei'  of  the  country  with  thriving  towns 
and  villages,  and  the  waters  of  the  streams  of  Ore- 
gon will  propel  the  machinery  of  our  ingenious 
nnd  enterprisiiii;-  artisans  and  manufacturer.s.  The 
enterprise  of  our  merchants  will  build  up  commer- 
eial  cities  on  the  magnificent,  deep,  iiiul  safe  har- 
liors  on  the  Pacific  eoast  iKu-th  of  the  mouth  of  the 
(Columbia,  in  which  their  shifiH  and  .«tenmers,  to  un 
almost  indefinite  extent,  can  float  in  the  greatest 
security. 

How  long  will  it  be  before  (he  commerce  of  the 
Atlantic  and  the  Pacific  will  be  connected  ncrosa 
the  continent  by  the  avenues  of  trade?  How  long 
will  it  be  before  the  iron  arms  of  railroads  wifl 
stretch  from  sen  to  sea  ?  I  have  no  doubt  but  there 
are  thousands  now  living  who  will  witness  the  con- 
summation of  that  magnificent  project.  Sir,  it  i» 
practicable,  and  the  magnitude  of  tlie  interests  de- 
pendant upon  it  arc  too  great  to  be  permitted  to  lio 
dormant.  The  distance  across  this  continent  is  va- 
riously estiuial<;d  at  from  .veveuieen  hundred  to  two 
thousaiid  miles:  take  the  greatest  distance,  and  add 
to  it  one  thousand  miles  for  curvitures  and  devia- 
tions of  a  railroad,  and  you  have  a  distance  of 
three  ihousaml  miles.  Cannot  that  distance  bp 
overcome?  Why,  sir,  ihe.'e  are  now  in  the  United 
States,  completed  and  in  successful  operation,  over 
four  thousnmrmiles  of  railroad,  nnd  as  much  more 
projected,  and  large  portions  of  it  in  an  advanced 
slate  of  completion.  Do  gentlemen  doubt  this? 
The  liistory  of  llu!  past  progress  of  our  country 
must  remove  all  doubt  on  that  subject.  At  the 
treat'/  of  peace  in  1783,  when  our  national  indc- 
l)endence  was  acknowledged  and  peace  restored, 
whai  was  our  condiiion  ?  This  Government  waa 
then  feeble,  its  means  exhausted,  without  com- 
merce and  almost  without  interiKil  resources,  nnd 
with  a  populniion  of  nbout  three  millions.  Whnt 
is  it  now?  What  has  it  grown  to  be  hi  sixty- 
three  years?  Its  population  is  i-ow  about  twenty 
millions.  Its  commercial  marine  is  fully  equal  to 
that  of  Great  Britain,  and  more  than  double  that 
of  all  the  other  commercial  Governments  of  Eu- 
rope. For  statistics,  I  avail  myself  of  th«^  compi- 
lutton  of  Oiioliiery  which  is  suid  to  be  correct;  and 


■what  does  i 
2,4'}f»,<l(l()  t. 

leaviii'.';  out 
What  is  till 
(  ioverniiier 
'j:<!t,(l()(l  In 
Sweden.   I  1 

in  L'J'.t:<,.v 

ted  States. 

Mississipi 

It  was  iinix 

keel-boals  \ 

Wh.it   is 

I'car  upon  I 

of  comnier 

the  commi 

li'W  Indian 

now'     Yo 

alone  l'(Mir 

Tiage  of  HI), 

of  the  v;i!i 

Rtruction  il 

steamers  o 

ihrou'j'h  w 

VVestcni  v 

If  this,  s 

venrs,  star 

eility,  and 

il  be  with 

with  our  < 

next  quail 

where  snli 

by  the  sii:l 

n'j:e,  the  er 

of  the  Pae 

become  th' 

nnd  harbo 

whose  snili 

jestic  ;;teaii 

bosom  oft 

the  trade  c 

without  a 

does  Grea 

nnd  comm 

not  yield  i 

long  as  sli( 

of  it.     W 

severed  in 

sinus  to  til 

himbia,ai 

The  reaso 

I'or  south 

mouth  of 

p;crous  by 

harbors  li^ 

claim,  am 

have  sect 

country,  ' 

lively  val 

reach  the 

in  a  I'riti: 

tir  )iroliili 

Wiih  ( 

roads  wi 

world  thf 

coiuinerc 

Europe  t 

close  con 

the  East 


continrnl  i\t 
t;  lie  rurricd 
iOtn  Eiimpr 
ii.si  ri!;lit.s  in 

acrosx  thin 
within  thnc 

wiihiii  ('oiii 
)W  th«>  coin 
;ico,  tilt  At- 
t.  JiiIiii'h,  i\ 

mill's.  l]\ 
iniiinii'atidii 
bonlrrs  fiti 
S'lyc   IIS  the 

the  riicifii- 
d  tlie  coni- 

t  quifl  oiir 
11(1  jiiiisdic- 
n  ol  (Mir  set- 
cruy  of  thr 
theCohini- 
Nuhdiie  till 
fields;  tlipy 
iviiiii:  towns 
nnis  of  Ore- 
r  iiiKTiiious 
iiHTs.  The 
lip  coninur- 
ul  .siife  liar- 
loiitli  of  the 
imci-.s,  toui> 
llie  greutcst 

[lerre  of  the 
ctcd  across 
How  ioii^T 
ilroads  wifl 
l)t  but  there 
ess  the  con- 
.     Sir,  it  ia 
nterests  de- 
nittod  to  lie 
titient  is  va- 
(Ired  to  two 
[•e,  and  add 
and  devia- 
distancc  of 
listanee  h? 
the  United 
•ation,  over 
much  more 
n  advanced 
Jo\ibt  this? 
nr  country 
n.    At  tlie 
ional  inde- 
p  restored, 
iiment  was 
houl  com- 
lurces,  and 
Ts.     What 
;  m  sixty- 
)iit  Iweniy 
y  equal  to 
ouhic  that 
nts  of  Eu- 
thfi  com  pi - 
»rrect;and 


f  "whnt  does  it  show  ?  Foreisn  tonnaije  of  Enffhuid, 
'},4'}(t,(l(»0  ti>ns;  of  Iht:  United  Stales,  'j,4  I7,(l(l(»  tons, 
IfaviiiLV  (lilt  ilie  tciniiMfie  of  our  l.ikcs  and  rivers. 
What  is  the  comiiierciiil  tonnaire  of  ollu-r  I'jiro|iean 
<  iovcniiiients.''  I'Vanco  has  (!'}r>,(l(l(t  tons;  Russia, 
'J:<<>,(M)()  tons:  [■)(  nmaiU,  '.^ry/Mrr.  Ifolland,  -'U.QHI; 
Svvcdcn.  I  lH.0x!5;  TiirKfy,  l,?>t»a,  amountiii-^  in  all 
to  l,',".t.'{,r»Hi,  oralioiuoiie-hiilf  of  that  of  the  Uni- 
ted Sillies.  What,  sir,  wa.s  the  coininerci;  of  the 
Mississi|>|ii  and  its  trilmlaries  only  forty  years  ii;;o.' 
1 1  was  unknown  to  the  world.  A  few  canoes  and 
keel-lioHts  were  padilled  and  |)olcd  aloriL'  its  shores. 
What  is  it  now?  Unndreds  of  tloatinir  jialaces 
hear  iipon  its  liosoiii  more  than  ^ti()(l,(l()(),0(l(j  worth 
cf  eoinrncrcial  c(nnnio(liiies  annually.  What  was 
the  commerce  of  your  lakes  forty  years  atjo  ?  A 
i'W  liidinn  traders  ahniy;  the  shores.  Wiiat  is  it 
HOW'  You  have  upon  Lakes  Krie  and  j\Ii(hi;,'aii 
alone  (uiir  hundred  commercial  vessels,  with  a  lon- 
riajje  of  H(),(HMI  tons,  earryini;:  annually  a  commerre 
of  the  value  of  51,, ')l)0, 00(1,  and  in  |>roi!r(  ss  ofcini- 
structioii  ihirly-four  vessels  more;  of  wtiich  ten  are  ' 
ste;imers  of  the  first  clas.'?.  The.>ioarc  the  avenues 
ihrou^'h  which  the  a<?ricullurai  prodiicts  of  the 
Western  valley  pnss  to  market.  ; 

If  this,  sir,  has  heen  our  pro'/ress  in  sixty-three 
vears,  siartini:  tVom  a  state   of  conifiarative  imhe-  ' 
•■ility,  and  with  hut  (Uie  sea  ojieii  to  us,  what  will 
It  lie  with  the   trade  of  tiie  Pacific  opened  to  us, 
with  our  pre.«;ent  means  of  advancement,  in   the 
next  fiuarter  of  a  century  to  come  ?  That  country, 
when;  solitude  now  reii^ns  almost  uul'roken  save 
l.iy  the  si<ihiii2^  of  the  winds,  the  whoop  of  tlie  sav- 
a'^e,  the  crack  of  the  hunter's  rifle,  or  the  dashin<!: 
<if  the  Pacific  waves  upon  its  shores,  will  then  liave 
liecome  the  home  of  (Mvili/.ed  men.    From  its  fiorts 
and  harhois  will  ^n  forth   a  commercial    marine, 
whose  sails  will  whiten  every  wave,  ami  wliose  ma- 
jestic .'UeaiiH'rs  will  ride  triumphant  on  the  traimuil 
liosom  of  that  ;j;reat  ocean.  We  cannot  expect  tlial  ' 
the  trade  connnand('d  l>y  that  ocean  will  he  yielded 
without  a  strui;;::le  hy  a(lver-<e  Powers.     Full  W(;ll 
does  Crreat  Hritain  understand  the  military  streiiijth  ' 
and  commercial  important!  of  Oreijon.     She  will 
not  v'ield  it,  rii^lit  or  wromj,  to  her  natural  rival,  so 
loni,'  as  she  can  hy  any  means  rf  tain  it  or  any  part 
of  it.     Why  has  she  so  lonij  and  obstinately  per-  1 
severed  in  the  assertion  of  her  untounded  preten-  , 
sions  to  the  wli(dt>  of  the  country  north  of  the  Co-  ' 
himbia,  and  to  a  Joint  rii^ht  to  the  use  of  that  river? 
The  reason  is  obvious.     There  is  not  a  i^ood  har-  : 
hor  south  of  the  Columbia,  tihI   navi<,^atioii  at  the  ■. 
mouth  of  that  stn^am  is  rendered  un-^aft!  and  dan- 
gerous by  bars,  shoals,  and  ('urrents.    All  the  ^ood 
harbors  lie  north  of  the  (.'olum!)ia.     Yield  her  that 
claim,  atid  it  is  all  that  she,  wants.     She  will  then  1 
have  secured  to   In^rself  the  stronir  places  of  the 
country,  and  rendered  the  balance  of  it  compara- 
tively valueless  to  us.    Our  products  c<)uld  not  ilu'ii 
reach  the  ocean  safely,  exi'Cjtt  throu^^h  Uritish  ports 
in  a  P.rilisli  province,  atui  subject  to  be  incumbered 
nr  prohibited  by  such  duties  as  she  may  impose. 

With  Oresron  impioved,  and  connected  by  rail- 
roads with  the  Atlamic,  we  will  furnish  to  the 
world  the  ijreat  desidera'.um  so  loni;  sou<j;ht  I'or  by 
commercial  nations — a  direct  communication  from 
Kiu'ope  to  Asia;  and  we  will  then  Im-  brouirht  in 
close  communiiMtion  with  the  (Commerce  of  ('liina, 
Uic  Eaat  ladies,  the  v.-est  coast  of  S(iuth  Americii, 


and  the  Pacific  isles.  Ciin  Piii  lin  siil  Q|,0()0  miles 
iiround  Cjipc  I  lorn,  or  •JT.IHH)  iiroui!d  the  ('ape  of 
(iood  I  fo|ie,  and  succ(rsi'iil|\' i'i.|ii|ii  le  with  us  in 
that  trade  whicli  we  can  reach  tVoni  the  wi  stern 
coast,  by  sl",ui)  vessels,  in  4000.'  |[er\oyaL,'e  will 
NMpiire  some  ei'ihl  iiionilis;  ouis,  scarcely  so  many 
weeks.  Who  then  will  have  the  carrying'  trade? 
I'rilain  will  be  compelled  either  to  open  a  ]iass;i'ie 
across  the  Isthmus  of  Darii  11,  trade  ihrou'/h  our 
works,  permit  us  to  have  the  carryimr  trad(>  or 
be  driven  from  the  market.  Sir,  that  ocean  trcni  of 
India  trade  has  been  acfpiired  and  enjoyed  by  •  ach 
coiumerciid  natiiui,  successively,  fr(uii  the  .rliest 
a:res  of  the  world.  Cartha'.re.  ( Jreece,  Rome,  Ven- 
ice, Pisa,  Ifeiioa,  PortiUiral.  Holland,  have  each,  ii) 
their  turn,  enjoyeil  ii.  Ivii^land  now  has  it.  Our 
dcsiinv  now  oilers  it  to  us.  Will  we  ai-cept  it? 
Will  we  adopt  and  carry  out  such  ji.sl  and  piiuleiit 
measures  of  policy  as  will  secure  to  us  this  irnal 
and  valuable  field  for  c(uniii(  rci.il  (  nterprisc  ?  This 
le:i(!s  us  to  the  c(nisidciatioii  of  another  branch  of 
this  subject. 

The  next  rjuestion  which  |nTsents  itself  to  our 
consideration  is:  to  whom  does  Oreiron,  in  whoh; 
or  in  part,  beloni:.'  To  t\\v  Unit((l  Slates  or  to 
(freat  I'ritainr  What  are  our  rii;lils  in,  and  our 
title  to,  Orei!:on?  And  what  are  the  pr(  tensions 
and  claims  ofdiciit  IJriiain  tolhes:iiu(  ?  Iiv  what 
evidence  are  the  riiihts,  claims,  imkI  pr(  tensions 
of  the  parlies,  respecliv(  ly,  yup|>(>rled  or  iirovtd? 
And  here  nirain  I  must  quote  t'nuw  ihe  speech  of  the 
ijentleman  from  South  Carolina,  [Mr.  lioi.MF.s.] 
who  savs:  "  1  deny,  in  toio,  any  rii:lit,  any  claim 
'  to  that  territorv,  <>r  to  (tiuj  juirt  or  pami  ihere- 
'  of,  that  does  not  apply  with  etpial  Hu'ce  and  etii- 
'  cienev  to  ilie  power  ol"  Cinal  liriiaiir,  and  if  I  do 
'  not,  by  as  fiiir  reasonini:  as  I  can  brinsr,  deinon- 
'  strate  this  position,  I  am  wiiiiii'^  to  ijive  up  now 
'and  forever  any  claim  to  lou:ic:d  powers.''  Thi:i 
makes  llie  issue  between  the  parlies,  and  pre.'!ent^^ 
the  Iirilish  vicv/  of  the  (|uesiio!i,  in  sul>st:inc(',  and 
almost  in  (Uv  same  wvu'ds.  in  which  it  was  present- 
ed by  Messrs.  Hopkins  and  Athlin',Moii.  British 
i'lenijiotenliaries,  on  the  Itiih  day  of  December, 
lR."2f),  when  ne^otiatiiii:  upmi,  and  (liscussinLr,  the 
British  title  to  Oreijon,  with  the  proper  iiullioiitie.i 
of  the  United  Slates.  They  s;iy:  '•  Great  Britain 
'  claims  no  exclusive  sovereiiriity  over  any  portion 
'  of  that  territory.  Her  ))resent  claim,  not  in  ro- 
'  spect  to  any  |ia'i-l,  but  to  the  whole,  is  limited  to  a 
'  ritrht  of  joint  occnpancy  in  common  with  other 
'  States,  leavinir  the  ri^ht  of  exclusive  sovereignly 
'  in  abe^'aace."  Every  Briiisli  Minister  and  diido- 
matisl,  from  that  lime  to  the  present,  has  c(nilend- 
ed  tor  the  same  [losilirni,  that  she  h;i(l  a  Joint  ri;jht 
with  the  United  Slates  to  the  whole  of  Or(.\;ron,  but 
that  neither  Government  had  a  s(  parate  rii^lit  to 
any  ]iart  thereof  To  this  pro]iosilion  I  cannot 
yield  my  assent.  It  is  iiotTny  ]iurpose,  however, 
to  arjjue  the  title  lo  the  whole  of  f>reu:on — time  will 
not  permit,  nor  is  it  necessary  for  my  present  pur- 
]iose.  I  propos(>,  however,  to  show  that  we  have 
a  clear,  perfect,  and  unencumbertal  title  to  the  soil 
and  sovereii^nty  of  a  part  of  Orei^on.  If  I  succeed, 
l>y  lair  and  le>i;itimate  proofs  and  ar;imients,  in  do- 
ing; so,  I  shall  have  met  and  overthrown  the  ])osition 
of  the  irtaitleinMU  from  South  Carolina,  and,  with 
it,  the  iK'Sition  assumed  by  Britain,  for  they  are 
identical. 


6 


For  tlic  ptifjinsrs  of  nir  nri^mnnnt,  I  Brlnct  ilial  i 
rtiirl  of  ilic  OiTi;(iii   Ifiriti'i-y  wliii'h  liis  soiilii  nf' 
Nootkii  Snninl:  tli;il  is,  mh  imii  Ii  tlicrcot'aH  In  .s  Ih;- 
twf'ci)  till'  Mixicaii  liiii'  nt  iIk'  4"Jil  luiriillfl  nf  liili- 1 
hiHc  iinil  Nuiitkn,  wliicli  i.s  in  I.iIiIikIp  41)'-' .'(.'>' ,  Ixiin; 
T^'A'.V ,  (ir  ill  inn  I  (Ivr  liuinlicd  iiiiIcm  ,\luiii;  llic  I'arifii- 
coa.st.     Mr.  <.*liiiiniiaii,  that  we  iiiny  have  n  cltjir  i 
atiil  (listint't  vi)!\v  oI'iIk'  (|tirHtiiiii,  allnw  nx:  to  |)rt'-  { 
inisc,  liy  utaliiiir  lli'   fai't,  llial  up  to  tlio  year  IHO.'i, 
there  were  five  several  :sover(  iu'H  ;iiiil   iiKlependeiit 
G<ivermiienlM  wliiili  eliimed  to  liave  riirlit.-^  and  iii- 
tci'esls  ill  Orc'^oii;  to  wil:   I'"iajiee,  S|iaiii,  lliiHsia, 
Great  IJrilaiii,  and  the  United  States.     The  I'laiin- 
ftiit.s  are  now  r<'dneed  to  t'le  two  ia.^t  named.    How, 
wlieii,  tnid  hy  whom,  the  riijhts  of  l-'raiiee,  S|i!iiii, 
find   Russia  were  e\liii.:rnislied,  and  wlm  becanif 
possessed  of  tliem,  I  shall  uliow  in  the  pro^res.s  of 
my  remaik'.s. 

Our  title  to  Oregon  is  of  two  kinds — first,  that 
wliich  wo  have  in  our  ri::ht,  liy  diseovery,  explo- 
ration, and  settlement;  and  seeomlly,  that  which 
we  have  liy  purchase  from  other  (iovernmeiits,  hy 
whieli  we  have  eonsolidated  in  the  United  Sttiles 
nil  the  oiitstandin'.r  claims  to  Oregon,  except  thu 
pretensions  to  title  liy  IJriiain,  thi'  present  nilvcrse 
f.laiinnnt.  1  shall  speak  lirst  of  our  h'reiadi  title. 
And  what  is  it.-  After  the  discovery  of  this  ronti- 
tineiit  liy  ('nhimlHis,  in  1  ll>-i,  CJreat  l.ritain  iuiil 
Trance  hotli  aci|M:ied  territorial  ri<4:lits,  inid  plant- 
ed Colonies  upon  it.  'I'he  nriii.-~li  p(i:sessions  wrrc 
on  the  Atlantic  coast,  nov,-  eomposiiii;  a  part  of  the 
Stales  of  this  Confederacy,  (  xtendin:;  hy  tlieir  <diar- 
lers  from  .sea  to  sea,  and  upon  Hudson's  May.  The 
French  possessions  were  upon  the  .Mississippi  and 
in  C;inada,  alsi  exiendini.;  ind'li;iittly  ucst  and 
northwest. 

Tiiese  claims  ii'-'ssarily  eonflicied.  In  1714, 
France  and  Kii.land  c,incluili  1  a  treaty  of  peace  at 
Utrecht,  which  ti>rmiii  ited  the  wai  then  rasiini,'  he- 
tweeii  them,  and  seltKd  all  their  ditiereiices  in  Fu- 
rope  ixnd  America.  I5y  the  tenth  article  oC  tiiat 
treaty,  it  was  le^reed  that  eommissioners  should  he 
appointed  to  run  ami  eslahlish  a  division  line  he 
tweeii  their  terriloiia!  posse.'-sion-  in  Xortli  Amer- 
ica. Commissioners  were  apiioinied,  who  estah- 
lished  thai  lii-e — c.imineiicir.tr  on  the  coast  of  Lah- 
raiior,  tind  ninninu'  southwest  to  the  Lake  of  the 
Woods,  npoii  the  4'.)ih  pamllel  of  latitude?,  and 
thence  exlendin:^  west  nlonw  that  piu-allel  indefi- 
nitely, which  of  course  exieiids  to  tin-  Pacifii-  oi'ean. 
This  line  divided  the  territories  occupied  liy  the 
Hudson's  Hay  ('ompany  e'li  the  norili  fro.m  the 
Canadas,  and  the  Mississippi  and  l^ouisiana  pos- 
Bessions  of  France  on  the  souili;  aiid  so  lara.s  these 
Govermnenls  were  <  onecrned,  est  ihlished  ii  line  of 
ecparalion  hetween  ihein,  i,nvliii;  to  France  all  Hril- 
ain's  claims  soiiih,  and  to  Mritam  all  Franco's  claim 
north,  of  4!P;  south  of  which  line  Great  Britain 
could  not  c;o,  or  acquire  any  t<  rrilorial  ri:.;hts,  after 
that  time,  without,  the  consent  of  h'rancc,  nor  could 
France  aeipiire  any  territori  d  ri;;hts  north  of  it, 
without  Hritain'.s  cmiseiit.  On  the  ri^d  day  of  Feb- 
ruary, IHO.'l,  a  treaty  was  concluded  between  tiie 
United  States  and  Franci',l)y  which,  for  a  valuable 
consideration,  h' ranee  sold  and  ceded  to  the  United 
State.s  all  her  i\lississij)pi  and  Louisiana  posses- 
fiions,  upon  this  or  the  otlier  side  of  ilie  Ilocky 
Mountains,  and  also  maile  us  a  party  to  the  teiitli 
article  of  the  treaty  of  Utrecht,  so  tar  us  tliis  terri- 


tory is  concerned,  Tiic  4;>th  panillrl  became  ilu. 
H  une  to  us,  as  ai^ainst  the  cl.uins  of  I5ritiin,as  it 
had  before  that  time  bei  n  to  Fr.tiiee.  ( ireal  llritiun 
does  not  pretend  to  h.ive  iiad  any  valid  <  laiins  west 
of  the  Rocky  moiintiiin.s  in  171  i;  she  could  ac(|Uiri 
none  .south  or4!>'^afier  that,  asauTiinsi  I'liince,  un- 
til lHd.'J,  when  we  purchased,  nor  since  that  time, 
a.s  ti;;;iin.sl  the  United  Stales,  i\h  the  purchasers  of 
Fremdi  rijjhl.i.  This  treaty,  iinlependeni  of  terri 
lori.il  rights  acijuired  by  it  id'  l''iance,  mt^jht  suc- 
cessfully be  ple)\d  in  bar  to  any  llritish  claims  south 
of  4!)'^,  and  would  iheref  .re  estalilish  the  position 
assumed,  that  we  intve  a  clear,  nil' iicuinbered,  atid 
indisputable  title  to  so  much  of  Oreiroii  as  is  south 
of  4!)^.  Hut,  Mr.  Chairman,  I  lixed  my  point  at 
Nooika,  a  little  north  of  4I>",  lo  which  1  propose 
to  examine  our  tith;.  And  for  tliat  purjiose  1  shall 
next  conHider  our  Sjianish  title.  And  what,  sir,  is 
that  title.'  Spain  was  no  party  to  tlu'  tenth  article 
of  the  treaty  ,of  Utrci  la,  and  was  not  thcrtlor< 
airectcd  or  bound  by  it. 

On  the  :2'2(1  day  of  February,  \»\\),  a  Irealv  wa.i 
made  III  Wtishin^ton  b(t\\een  the  United  Slate.- 
air.i  Spain,  by  wliirli  the  iviiit;  of  t  pain  "  soldiind 
'  ceded  lo  the  United  Slates  all  Spanisli  riijhts  and 
'  |>reteiisions  east  and  north  of  the  4'.'d  parallel  of 
'north  latitude,  and  I'or  himself,  his  heirs,  iiii.l 
•  sue 'essois,  he.  renounced  all  claim  to  said  terri- 
'  tories  forever."  'J'his  treaty  of  purchase  fixed 
the  4:2d  parallel  of  latitude  tvs  the  noitheni  boniid- 
ary  of  Sptinish,  now  Mexican,  toid  the  southern 
boundary  of  the  U'nittd  States  territory,  and  t;av( 
to  the  United  .States  ail  Spain's  riy:hts  in  Oret;oii, 
and  (Ml  the  Pacific  north  of  the  4f2d  dei;re(^  of  lali- 
tude.  What  were  the  ri^jhts  of  Sjiaiii  thus  sidd 
and  transferred  to  the  United  States,'  I  will  brielly 
stiite  lliem.  Shortly  after  the  discovery  of  thi.- 
eoiitineiit,  in  14'J~*,  Cortez,  for  Spain,  eoni(ucn  d 
Mexico,  and  Sjiain  estaldished  her  Government 
thereunder  ti  viceroyalty.  Wiitn  riuthin;;  inon 
remained  in  Mexico  for  Spanish  eompiest,  she  be- 
ijan  to  extend  her  search  and  exploralioiis  north- 
ward aloiiij  the  Pacific  coast  for  new  countries  to 
con(|U(;raiid  seitle.  I  shall  pass  over  many  of  tlu 
earlier  and  more  obscure  dj.^eoveries  of  Spain  on 
the  I'arific,  coast,  and  mention  those  only  which 
are  well  defined,  and  upon  which  title  can  lie  predi- 
cated, and  from  wh.'-.;li  terriiurial  ri^i^hts  can  he  de- 
rived. 

In  l.'i4"J,  Cahrillo  was  sent,  wi'.h  two  vessels,  bv 
the  viceroy  of  Mexico^  \\  ith  instrNactions  to  explore 
the  coast  northward,  as  far  as  p(\ssible,  in  search 
of  new  countries.  This  expediliiMi  continued  its 
cxplonition.s  about  one  yetu",  (Jabrillo  died  on  the 
voyas^e,  and  the  command  dt  volvcd  upon  l^'erelo, 
who  (ixaniined  the  coast  as  far  noi-th  as  the  4.'Jd 
jiarallel.  In  1592,  the  viceroy  of  Mexico,  still  in 
lent  on  northern  discov(;rics,  sent  Juan  de  Fucu,  a 
distiiii;ui.Nliril  na"'iii;ator,  to  explore  the  northwist 
coast  and  to  discover  the  Straits  of  Annitin,  (now 
Fucti,)  whicii  wer(;.su}>posed  lo  coimeci  jthe  Pacific 
with  the  .'Vtlaniic  ocean.  He  sailed  noi^h  until  In 
reached  a  point  between  the  4Hlli  and  49ili  jiarai- 
lels  of  latiti  d',  when  Ik;  came  into  a  !ar^e  inlet  ol 
the  sea,  in  which  he  sailed,  niakiny:  explorations, 
as  he  says,  for  twenty  days.  This  was  the  Strait 
of  Fiica,  which  yet  bi;ars  the  name  ol'thal  naviga- 
tor, who,  beyond  all  doubt,  fir.-it  discovered  the 
existence  anil  entrance  to  that  strait.     In  1G03, 


'izcnino, 
ir  roast 
774  Pere. 

•4>  on  ill!  < 

iHtructioi 
itiuidi ,  ;i 
(jy,  in  the 
le  countr 
ailed  nori 
ia  return 
3',  he  en 
luBri,lriid 
lay  is  nov 
be  fii'st  na 
Oinid,  an 
he  name 

In  I77."», 
Vfis  si'iit  n 
tuiiid  of 
Xuinine  t 
)n  his  III 
>Uces,  an 
Gii;:,;'nd 
hat  he  luu 
if  the  sain 
vcre  fouii 
vlleli  he  a 
'Oti  sailtd 
m  Uuadr. 
ned  the  CI 
e|  south,  i 
he  mouth 
t  by  renin 

In  thi'f--a 
A'ho  lii'd  s: 

.he  schooii 

IS  the  .")Hil 
loiilhward 
Hero,  two 
■jy  Mexico 
equipped,  1 
'or  Spain, 
^et'lement 
3n  the  Glh 
(bund  it  en 
1784;  pos.ci 
a|)d  a  settle 
there  until 
At  this 
Pacific  coi 
that  coast, 
sole  and  e: 
This  clain 
full  exien 
doubted  bl 

agiinst  an 
country. 

H.ad  Spi 
1819,  by  V 
iihpaired  t 
that  slu'  III 
1790, of  w 
aOer.  It  i 
dial  title  .s 
0(1  r  Spani 
and  which 
h|<;hcr  iij) 
lifesciit  pi 
1 


•allrl  lirc'uiif  till,  'i/miiin,  n  .Spanmli  iwivigalor,  rnrcfully  surveyed 
ol'  lint  nil,  as  It  IP  cuist  mI"  (.'ulifiiriiin  Id  tin;  37lli   imrallcl.     In 


ilii'  ('i<iililart|mri 
r\iiisi  I'lancc,  mi- 
siiK'c  that  tiiiir. 
In;  jiurrlia.si'rH  nl 
|i(ii(|i>iii  (if  tt rn 
aiii'f,  niijjlit  Hu<'- 
iInIi  cluiiiis.siiuili 


f.  <  ircat  IJriiiiiii  771  IVn/.  was  d(  siiaulitii  liy  the  viirroy  dl'Mfx- 
valid  <  l.iiins  w<'.-<i  vo  im  aiM;X|ilnriiij;  tX(><;dilii)ii  to  llii' iiurili,  wiili 
imiiirii.ni.s  to  |ini(;«((l  In  tin  (lOtli  def;rcf  ni' mirili 
itiiudi  ,  and  tn  t'Xplnru  the  coawt  Riiulli  to  Moutt:- 
ay,  III  ilii:  .'ITtli  dc^nxf,  and  to  Uikt;  po.s.vcssinii  of 
It  iciuiitiy  ill  tlic  name  of  ihcKin^  of  S|);iiii.  He 
ail(  (1  liortli  to  tli(  ri'Uh  dt.i^icc  of  laiiuuk,  and  on 
is  ntuiii  siaitli  !d(iii<;  ilic  coaHl,  in  Iniitiidi'  4!)" 
3',  lit'  cnK  red  a  ra|iaciou.s  hay,  luid  remained 
lisii  tlie  |M).sitiuii  lj£ic,in.>diii;;  wiili  tlif  niiiive.'-,  fur  sonu' time.  Tiiis 
fncuiiil)i:red,iiiid  lay  is  now  lalled  Nootku  Sound,  and  Perez  w.t.s 
eijon  a.s  in  soiiili  \xt  fir.st  iiavi^Nilor  who  ever  saw  or  diHcovered  thi.i 
(ed  my  |ioiiii  at  ound,  and  at  that  time  he  took  poiiisciitiioii  of  it  in 
vliieli  1  propose  lu- iiaiiif  ofliis  .sovereif^n. 

It  purpose  I  siiall     111  177.'),  Urimo  Ilccela,  in  the  service  of  Spain, 

\iid  what,  sir,  i.'^  vBs  sent  nnn'.i  on  an  expioriiij;  expedition  in  eom- 

th(;  tenth  urlielf   iinnd  of  the  shi[i  Santin;,'(S   with  inslniclioiijj  to 

as  not  thcrcfon    xuniinc  the  coast  to  the  (joth  parallil  of  latitude. 

)n  his  noiihward  V(iyuj;e  he  landed  at  various 

1!),  .1  troalv  wa«  )Uee.«,  and  took  |io:<scbsi('ii  iu  the  num<'  of  lii.s 

0  United   Slale.s  Gn;,',  I'lid  i:recled  enisscs  with  inscriptions  staling; 

t  pain  "  sold  and  hot  lio  had  visited  the  places  and  taken  pos.s(ssioii 

anish  rii^hts  and  if  the  same  in   the  name   of  his  sovereif,Mi,  which 

•  4rid  paialii  I  of  vere   found   liy  Vancouver,   a  British  navigator, 

his  heirs,   and  vjien  he  afterwards  visited  the  .sume  place  .s.     Ile- 

ni  to  said  terri- '.atii  .sailtd  north  to  the  fjOlh  parallel,  and  landed 

pnrciiase  fixed  )n  Uiiadra  and  Vancouver's  Island,   and  exuni- 

noithern  lioiind-  ned  the  coast  of  the  continent  from  the  4^th  paral- 

iid  the  soulherii  e)  south,  and  disi-o\ered  ihe  current  issuing  frnni 

riiory,  and  ;,'av<   he  miniih  of  ihc  Columhia  rivi  r,  hut  did  not  enter 

iy;lils  in  ()rei;oii,  t  Ly  reason  of  the  rapid  i  uncut,  which  drove  him 

2d  de!.cree  of  laii-  ;ack. 

Spain  thus  .sold  In  the  Fame  year,  Seiiors  Quadra  and  Muiinlle, 
•s.'  I  will  hrielly  vh<>  had  sailed'  iu  com)>aiiy  witii  llecctn,  on  hoard 
iscovery  of  tlii.-  .he  sclioouerSaiitiai;o  \isiied  the  coast  i\s  fir  north 
pain,  con(|ucred  IS  the  oHih  parallel,  and  then  explored  il.e  coast 
ler  Goveriimeiit  iouthward  to  Califuniia.  In  Hfy,  Martinez  imd 
n  rioiliiuL;  inon  Hero,  two  Spanish  comuKinders,  were  desjiatched 
on(|iiest,  she  he-  jy  Mexico,  in  command  of  two  vessels  armed  and 
'orations  north-  equipped,  with  orders  to  take  possession  of  Nootka 
.ew  countries  to  'or  Spain,  and  to  erect  and  arm  a  fort,  and  make  a 
ver  many  of  the  settlement  therein  the  name  of  the  Kin^^of  Sjiain. 
ics  of  Spain  on  Dn  the  Cili  May,  1789,  Martinez  entered  the  sound, 
lose  only  which  round  it  entirely  unoccupied,  us  Perez  had  left  iiiu 
lie  can  lie  prcili-  17H4;  pos.ce.s.sion  was  taken,  a  fort  eroded,  armed, 
i,i,'lits  can  he  dt;-  apd  a  settlement  made,  and  tlie  Spanish  flag  floated 

there  until  17'J5. 
two  vessels,  hv  At  tliis  time  Russia  had  six  .settlements  on  the 
■tioiis  to  explore  Pacific  coast,  and  French  ships  had  also  vi.-:^ited 
ssiMe,  in  search  that  coast.  At  this  time,  also,  Spain  claimed  the' 
Ml  continued  ii.taoh'  and  exclu.sive  sovereignty  of  tlie  Paciric  coast, 
rillo  died  oil  the  This  claim  was  too  broad  to  he  admitted  to  the 
ed  upon  Kerelo,  full  extent  it  was  made;  hut  it  cannot  w  '1  be 
loriii  as  ihc  4;jil  doubted  but,  at  that  lime,  Spain's  claim  was  good 
Mixico,  still  in  agiinst  any  |jretcnsions  of  Great  Britain  in  that 
luande  Fucu,  a  country. 

'(•  ihe  uorthwi.'-i  Had  Spain,  iu  any  manner,  before  the  treaty  of 
f  Anniaii,(no\v  1819,  by  which  we  acquired  her  title  to  Oregon, 
lueciUiie  Pacific  impaired  tluit  title.'  It  is  not  claimed  by  nritain 
d  iioi^ii  until  he  that  sh?  had,  except  by  the  Nootka  coineiiiioii  of 
and  49iii  jiani-  1790,  of  which  I  shall  liave  occasion  to  speak  liere- 
)  a  'urge  inlet  ol  after.  It  is  not  pretended  that  we  have  impaired 
ig  explorutions,  that  title  since  we  acquired  it  from  Spain.     This  is 


*T>    "  -■■  I .vv,.  .,,.-  ,    —m.'^ .......  ^     ,,  V-    n.-..!!  i_*ii  (_u.    iL    11  <f  IJI   >.^[  flLIII  .  J,   Ilia    ii> 

s  was  the  Strait  olir  Spanish  title,  which  yet  stands  unimpaired, 
;  of  that  naviga-  and  wliich  can  with  great  force  be  carried  much 
■'        'ereil  tin  hjghcr  up  the  c —  "' 
In  1()03.  present  purpose 


ii»*»j^.i-  «...    ......  41    ..v.i.   ..ilii    i^n.,tiL   ji.Fiii:    uu   i;aiiicu    iiiucii 

discovered  tin  hjghcr  uj)  the  coast   than  it  is  necessary  for  my 
11  1603,  present  purpose  to  carry  it. 


rait. 


I  I  8liall  next  proceed  to  present  the  title  wc  havo 
I  in  our  own  proper  right,  by  discovery,  vxploruttoii, 
I  and  settlement. 

In  17f<7,  Captains  Cray  and  Keudrick,  of  I!o:<- 
I  tmi,  .'tailed  from  that  place  for  the  iN'orih  Pacific; 
I  llii;  former  coimniindiiig  tlu-  American  ship  ^Vah!l- 
iiigton,  the  latter  the  Coluinbia.  In  llhH  they 
!  linidtd  at  Nootka.  In  Hi-^lt,  tiray,  among.U  their 
i  discoveries  and  eX|ilorations,  exjihu'cd  the  wlnde 
I  east  coast  of  Clueeii  ( 'harlotte'.s  Island;  alsoentered 
I  and  sailed  fifty  iiiile.'^  thiouf^h  the  Sliiiils  of  Fuca; 
he  bein_'the  first  navigator  wlio  had  tntered  beyond 
!  ihe  nioiiih  of  said  tiraits  or  .mailed  in  the  same.  In 
I  the  fall  of  1790,  Gray  and  Kendriik  exchanged  \(s- 
sels,  and  Gray  tlier(. after  commanded  the  (Jidiim- 
j  ilia,  upon  which  vessel  heju'oceeiied  to  China, and 
'  from  thence  to  Ho.slon.  Kendrick  reiuained  in  the 
I  Pacific,  and  shortly  afti  r  sailed  entirely  through 
1  liiv  Straits  of  Fuca,  and  in  1791  mnchased  from  the 
Indian  chiefjt  at  Nootka  several  large  tracts  of  land, 
I  and  toidv  deeds  for  the  same.  In  179,'l  he  was  ac- 
!  cideiiUilly  killed  ut  Owyhee.  In  1791  Gray  again 
j  arrived  on  the  Pacific  coast,  and  during  that  year 
I  examined  many  of  the  inlets  and  jiassiiges  btlv.'eeii 
,  the  54th  and  5()lh  parallels  of  latitude. 

On  the  7th  May,  179"^,  Captain  Gray  discovered, 

1  entered,  and  landi  d  in  IJuliiiicirs  Harbor,  iu  lati- 

I  tilde  4(i'^  ,"jb',and  remained  three  days  trading  v.  iih 

!  the  native.'!.     On  the  Hih  of  the  same  mouth  he 

'  disi;nvered,  entered,   and   saili  d    some   twenty  or 

I  twenty-five  miles  u[>  the  Coliimliia  rivtr,  where  he 

I  reniaiiied  for  several  days,  trading  with  tlie  uatists. 

Captain  Gray  was  the  first  navigator  who  dis<'ov- 

eied  and  navigated  liiai  river,  and  up(ui  leaving,  In.- 

g:ive  it  the  name  of  hi.^;  ship,  ((Columbia,)  which  it 

yet  bi'ars. 

lie  iit'tcrward.-v  coinmuniiated  to  Vancouver  and 
Quadra  his  di:^covcri(s  of  13ulfiiich"s  Harbor  aiul 
the  Columbia  river,  which  was  the  first  knowledge 
they  had  of  them,  and  iefi  with  Quadra,  at  Nootka, 
charts  of  the  same. 

In  lh04aii  expedition  was  fitted  out  under  the 
Admiuistration  of  President  Jeillrson,  to  cxjiloi(! 
the  principal  branches  of  the  ^Missouri  river  to  their 
s(nirce,  and  then  to  cross  the  Rocky  Mountains 
and  trace  to  the  Pacific  some  stream  that  would 
alTord  the  most  direct  water  communication  across 
the  continent.  Captains  Lewis  and  Clarke  were 
commissioned  to  conduct  this  expedition.  On  liic 
]r)th  November,  180.J,  they  landtd  on  the  coast  of 
the  Pacific,  having  traced  the  waters  of  the  Colum- 
bia from  its  source  in  the  mountains  to  its  termi- 
nation at  the  Pacific  ocean.  Thev  took  po.sscssioii 
of  the  country,  encamped  near  tlie  mouth  of  the 
Columbia,  and  remained  there  until  the  23d March, 
IHOG,  when  they  reiurned  ui>  the  Columbia  in  ca- 
noes, as  far  I'.sKooskook  rivi;r,ex|iloriiig  its  shores, 
and  noting  the  large  tributary  streams  which  flow 
into  the  Columljia.  Iu  1811,  John  Jaco!)  Astor, 
of  New  York,  entered  the  Columbia,  sailed  up  it 
about  ten  miles,  and  built  F'or*  Astoria,  which  he 
occupied  until  ldl3,  vvh(  n,  during  the  last  war,  it 
I'ell  into  tin  hands  of  Great  Pjrilain.  Its  restora- 
tion was  provided  for  in  1814,  at  the  treaty  of 
Ghent;  and  (Jii  the  Cili  day  of  October,  1818,  by  a 
written  order  of  the  British  '"'  '•iimenl,  the  pos- 
session of  Astoria  was  formally  restored,  and  de- 
livered by  the  agent  of  that  Government  to  an 
United  States;  the  cross  of  St.  George 


iveretl   ijy  i 
igeiil  of  the 


8 


was  lowoml.ftnd  Iho  utripcB  nnd  Htnrn  flontcd  nin'\n 
over  Aslorin.  TliiM  is  mir  Aiin'riran  tiilc.  Doch 
il  ^iv«:  In  iiH  llic  cxcliisivf  Mrivf  n'lL'iity  ami  ri^jlit  of 
Hoil  in  llif  (!.tlninl)i!i  v,ill«  y  ?  Hy  iiiKiii.iiiorml  law, 
n  OcivtTiimcnt  <an  aciiiiirf  litl<',  in  an  un'»i'<u[)i('(l 
lonntry,  liy  (li.scovcry,  if  it  l»i;  fnllowiil  np  in  ii 
miHoimlilf!  tinif  liy  exploration  and  sciilenieril. 
IIiivc  wc  brou^lit  onrselveH  within  iliis  rnle  ? 
(iriiy  (liHeovercd  in  17'J'i;  Lewis  and  ("hokr'  ex- 
plored in  iHliri;  Astor  founded  a  seitienient  in  iMlJ. 
|)o  not  lliese  events  follow  in  a  reasonalilc  iitne 
after  each  oilier,  the  remoieneHS  and  diHiriillv  of 
acr.esM  of  the  roiuitry ''onnidered  ?  Can  (Jniit  llrit- 
(lin  hIiow  as  'jood  a  lille  lo  the  valley  of  the  (,'o!iini- 
biu?  Sir,  if  she  can,  she  has  not  doiif  so.  Wh.it, 
sir,  is  the  extent  of  the  valley  of  the  Coin  ml  lia?  'I'he 
head  waters  of  its  southeast  hraiii'hes  reneh  the 
Mcxiean  line  in  latitude  4j2";  the  noriluveatiTii 
l)raiiehe."»  Nireteh  to  i")!^  10'.  Hut  this  carries  the 
nru;unient  further  than  I  proposed,  haviie^'  proposed 
to  aru;ue  the  title  as  far  as  the  Nootka  only.  'I'o 
this  I  will  add  the  tilh;  of  conti^niily.  Oreijoii  lies 
eoterininnus  with  the  whole  western  frontier  of 
the  United  States;  it  lie."»  lictween  Ui<  and  the  Pa- 
cific ocean.  It  hems  us  in  on  the  entire  western 
frontier  of  tlie  Ucpiihlic.  It  is  hit,'hly  important  to 
ns  for  a;^ricultiiral  and  (tonnnercial  purposes.  It  is 
alinitst  indispcnsalile  to  us  for  our  national  defence 
nnd  safety.  From  I'ritaiii,  the  otln'rclaimnnf,  it  is 
remote.  She  can  desire  it  only  for  national  a;;- 
Kraiidizeniciil  and  the  j)ride  of  empire.  Site  needs 
it  not  for  the  naiionni  salety  or  national  existtMien. 
If  ihefe  facts  luiii'.;  us  within  the  jtriiiciples  of  title 
"by  eontiy;uiiy,"  as  recoi^/iised  l>y  international 
lasv,  then  upon  that  principle  we  claim  it.  Aiimv 
me,  .sir,  to  add  one  other  evidence  of  title  to  (Jre- 
i;on;  I  introduce  it  hy  way  of  plea  in  i>ar  to  Gvi-n\ 
Hritaiii.  In  the  sixteenth  century  (treat  Britain, 
hy  charters,  granted  to  the  colonies  of  Viri;iiiia  ami 
Massachusetts  all  land.s  lyini;  helween  crrtain  ptir- 
iillels  of  latitude  across  this  coiiiimnt,  "from  sea  to 
sea."  All  the  territorial  ri;;hls  wkich  nriiain  then 
had,  rested  in  the  colonies  between  tlielimiis  men- 
lioncd  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  These 
diartcred  limits  embrace  nil,  or  nearly  nil,  of  Ore- 
•;;on.  In  177(5,  these  colonies  were  renels;  in  17H;j, 
they  were  victors,  trentin;^  on  terms  of  nnlioiial  in- 
dependence and  national  equality  with  their  former 
sovereign.  By  tiic  treaty  of  llHli,  Britain  nc- 
knowledgcd  their  indejiendcnce,  and  le''t  them  in 
the  full  nnd  j^cnceablc  enjoyment  of  nil  the  territo- 
rial rights,  ns  granted  to  the  colonies  by  the  char- 
ters, without  any  reservation  or  exception. 

The  colonies  to  whi<'h  these  grants  were  made, 
have  since  ceded  all  their  territorial  rights  beyond 
certain  limits,  to  the  United  States,  where  the  title 
is  now  vested.  The  question  now  c,ome.g  np  be- 
tween Britain,  the  grantor  to  the  colonies,  nnd  the 
United  States,  as  assignee  of  the  colonics  who  were 
the  grantees  of  Britain,  under  'he  hand  and  seal  of 
her  King.  Can  we  not,  then,  successfully  set  up 
in  bar  of  Britain's  claims,  the  titles  granted  by  her 
King,  signed,  sealed,  and  delivered,  in  ]C,'>%  nnd 
1620,  and  by  her  ae:ain  ratified  and  confirmed  in 
1783,  against  any  claim  she  can  now  mnl^e  ?  By 
lier  charters  she  conveyed  all  the  rights  .'^lie  then 
liad,  and  by  the  same  grant  she  estopp  -d  herself 
from  afterwiirds  acquiring  any  further  rii;hls  in  the 
country,  unless  by  purchase  or  by  conquest,  neither 


of  which  «he  now  prrfrndfl  to  claim.  I  will  ndr 
Hir,  one  more  muniment  of  title,  niiil  the  lanl:  . 
is  the  title  of  the  gentleman  from  Illinois,  "  incvi' 
able  destiny."  'I'liere  is  more  in  this  nrgumfii' 
sir,  than  appears  upon  the  siirlacc.  If,  by  pr)litic, 
derelictions,  arising  either  from  political  nmbitioi 
seclioiiiil  jealou.sies,  cupidity,  avarice,  party  ho.'- 
tiliiy,  forciijn  attachmeiitHand  toreii;ii  iiiterestfl,  w 
should  |os(-  Oregon  now,  by  inevitable  destiny 
will  be  recovered.  Sir,  nations,  like  men,  pa." 
throiiL'h  iiif.incy  lo  the  vigor  of  manhood,  and  thi 
ilie  decrepitude  of  hoary  age.  If  we  are  true  t 
ourselves  and  preserve  our  glorious  Union,  win 
our  vast  and  fertile  empire  shall  sustain  its  (it't 
million  of  freemen,  the  sails  of  our  commen 
wliiii'ii  ev(  ry  wave,  and  our  navy  ride  triumphal 
oil  every  sen,  then,  sir,  we  will  win  on  (he  battl 
field  what  we  may  this  day  lose  in  the  couni 
chatnbfT.  Thus  will  inevitable  destiny  give  i; 
()reg<in.  Upon  these  five  several  grounds  I  \>n> 
our  rivals  in  and  title  to  Oregoti,  and  leavi;  each  f 
him.srlf  to  decide  upon  the  force  and  ellect  of  tl, 
proof  adduced. 

Mr.  Chairman,  before  I  prnecfd  to  state  ihccv 
dence  upon  which  Britain  rrsts  her  claim  and  pr< 
tensions  in  Oregon,  allow  me  to  notict  one  inqMii 
tant  fact,  wlii.li  is  now  a  matter  of  hi.story  an 
cannot  Ix-  denied.  It  is  tl  .  that  in  all  the  dipl< 
matic  discussions  which  have  taken  jilace  betwei 
the  twoCJovernmenis  in  relation  to  Oregon,  from  tli 
treaty  of  Ghent  in  |H|4,  down  to  the  year  IS^t 
Fiiigland  b.ised  her  claims  exclusively  upon  tli 
discoveries  of  her  niivii^ators.  The  Nootka  coi, 
veiitioii  was  never  named  in  tluse  diseiissions  urn 
Mr.  Htish,  the  Ameri(!!ui  Minister,  introduced 
in  ).'-<2fi.  In  IHr>(J  Britain  changed  ground;  sh 
abandoned  her  claims  by  discovery  as  the  sol 
grounds  of  Ik  r  title,  and  planted  herself  upon  tli 
Nootka  convention.  Ami  why,sir,wasthischang' 
The  reason  is  obvious.  The  discussionof  thisciue.- 
tioii  lead  the  Ministers  of  the  two  Governments  i 
trace  back  their  claims  respectively  to  their  origii 
in  the  log-books,  daily  jour  lals,  and  contempor,i 
neons  writings  of  the  several  navigfitor.s  upon  whos 
discoveries  the  title  of  the  claimants  must  stand  e 
fall.  Before  this  inve.stigation  the  British  title  fadti 
away,  and  its  inevitable  overthntw  was  foreseen  ii 
her  statesmen:  the  American  title  grew  bright( 
and  stronger  at  every  .step.  The  British  negoiia 
tors,  to  avoid  defeat,  in  182G  changed  ground,  aii^ 
look  shelter  behind  the  Nootka  convention,  upe 
which  the  title  on  her  .side  i.s  now  mainly  rested. 

1  shall  now  )iroceed  to  state  the  claims  and  pn 
ten.=iions  of  Britain  to  Oregon,  as  she  has  mad 
them,  durin;:  the  thirty  years  negotiation  on  thi 
subje(;t,  first  by  discovery  and  exploration  of  In 
navigators,  and.  secondly,  by  virtue  of  the  Noo; 
ka  convenlion.  In  the  eiU'ly  part  of  her  negi 
ti.-ition,  and  whilst  Great  Britain  predicated  h( 
claims  upo'i  discovery  and  exploration,  she  con. 
menccd  with  the  voyage  of  Sir  Francis  Draki 
Sir,  what  was  that  voyager  On  the  the  ISth  >■ 
December,  l.')77,  Drake  .sailed  from  Plymoutl; 
Ktigland,  o.steiisibly  for  a  voyage  to  Egypt,  hu 
really,  as  the  sequel  proved,  on  a  predatory  c.'i 
cursion  against  the  S|)anish  settlements  in  Amer 
ica.  In  September,  ].'>7S,  he  arrived  in  the  Pncili 
near  the  Spanish  settlements  there,  and  after  plui: 
dcring  tlieir  towns  and  ships,  and  filling  his  vess' 


9 


iiini.     F  will  ndr 
I'm!  the  lasl: 
lllinnis,  "  idcvi' 
II    lIllH    Mri;;iiirii  II' 
If,  hy  piilitic, 
•nlili«al  ninl)itii)i 
iuiof,  parly  li(»> 
<ii,'ii  inlcrf'Nts,  vi 
vitiihic  destiny 
,   liNc  niin,  )ms 
iiiIhukI,  ami  tli< 
'"  w  I'  arc   iriip  t 
lis  Union,  win 
NiiHiiiin  its  lift 
•Mir  rnnimun 
i<ln  tiiiiniphai 
n  nil  the  ItattI' 
in  t\w  cdiini 
cMiiny  c'lvv.  \, 
u;riiiuiils  I  l)a^ 
..j|  if'avf! « iich  fi 
und  ert'ccl  of  th 


il  to  Ntatn  tliccv. 
cv  riaim  and  pn 
iitticf  onr  ini])(); 
r  of  history  nn 
t  in  all  the  dipl> 
en  plane  lietwcc 
()rcii;on,(Voni  tli 
1  the  year  isyt 
isively  niion  tli 
he  NootKa  co( 
(lis(\iis.sioii,s  iini 
rr,  intrndiicod 
[■pd  i^ronnd;  sh 
.Try  as  the  sol 
hrrself  njion  tl' 
,  wastliisi'liangi 
»siono('thisque.< 
Governnionts  t 
y  to  their  orit^it 
iiid  <!ontenipora 
iitoi-snpon  whos 
Its  must  stand  d 
Hritish  title  fadei 
'Was  t'orcsren  h 

0  i^rew  l)right( 
llritish  iiCf,^oti;i 
ged  j^rnund,  an. 
onvention,  iipn 
mainly  rested. 

!  I'laims  and  pn 
s  she  has  mad 
jntialion  on  the 
ploration  of  Ik 
tue  of  the  Nooi 
irt  of  her  nego 

1  predicated  he 
ration,  slio  com 
Francis  Draki 
the  the  l.Sth  i^ 
roni  riymoutl; 
;  to  Eii;ypt,  hu 
a  predatory  ex 
ments  in  Amfr 
(d  in  the  Pncili 
,  and  after  pliii: 
filling  his  vess' 


with  the  spoils,  in  the  fiprinjt  of  ITiTO,  hf^'onclnded  |  nruto  slrrnm  that  einptiml  into  the  Slrnii«  of  I'ucn. 
til  ixtiirn   home.     I'lariiif;,  if  he  yailed  Hoiiih  l)y  '  ui  laliliide  i\P.     Did  (Jreat  Mriniii  ever  follow  no 


Ma<;<'llairs  Strait,  the  SpuniardH  would  inler<'ept 
him,  he  .mailed  northwcHt  to  ahonl  the  I'Jd  de^rte 
of  laiitnde,  when,  l>y  Htress  of  weather,  he  wu.s 
driven  hark  to  latitude  .■K\  when  h;  landed  in 
Cilifornin,  n  fitted  his  vescel,  n  lo.iiin  d  till  the 
spriiii;  of  iriHtl,  took  posseHsion  of  and  I'alled  the 
place  .\ew  AMiion,  and  in  Septemher,  I.Xl,  he  ar- 
rived ill  Kn;;laii(l.  This  is  ilie  .ucoiint  of  |)r;ike'H 
voyai/e,  as  i;iven  in  l')H!>  hy  I'rainis  Pretty,  who 
was  with  Drake,  and  which  i:^  doulllle.s,^  correct. 
II(!  never  touched  the  short!  north  of  the  .')i^th  dt- 
i;Tee,  whirh  is  tw<i  de'^rees  south  of  our  southern 
lioiindary. 

Enirlaiid  does  not  now  rely  upon  Cook'.;  voy- 
ai;c  for  title.  In  177(1,  two  ceniurics  aficrwanis, 
th(!  next  ISriiish  navi<;ator  who  a[>p<  an  d  in  the 
Pacil'ic  was  Captain  James  Cook,  who  was  sent 
hy  the  Iiriii.sh  t Jovernimnt  on  an  exidorins:  ixpe- 
dition,  with  instructions  to  take  possession  of  such 
places  as  he  mii:hi  discover,  whii'h  li  id  not  al- 
ready lieeii  "  disriivrtil  or  visited"  by  oilier  iiaiiniis. 
.After  a  voyaire  of  near  two  years,  in  which  he 
visited  Van  Dieman's  Land,  N'ew'/ealand,  Friend- 
ly and  Society  Jslaiids,  and  other  places,  on 
tlit^  7ih  of  March,  17HH,  he  arrived  oppo.site  the 
northwesi    coiust    of    America,    in    lalilutle    44°. 


the  dtsioverieM  of  any  of  her  iiavi:.;.ilors  hy  poH- 
S'ssion  and  setiltmeni'  If  sin  did,  slie  haii  iieviT 
to  tluN  d.iy  furnished  tl.r  world  witli  the  evidence 
of  II.  The  first  setllemint  ever  made  liy  a  Uriiish 
Huli)e.'t  %\  I  -I  of  the  Hocky  Moniiiaiiii  was  made  liy 
.McKen/ie,  in  the  year  |f<Otl,  whi  11,  as  an  a;renl 
of  till'  .Northwest  l-'iir  <'ompaiiy.  he  estahlisheil  ii 
triulili?  post  oil  the  'i'aciicliee  Teesi  ,  ill  latilnde  .'>4^'. 
'I'his  IS  the  i'ritish  title,  mo  far  as  it  rests  on  dix- 
covery  I'V  licr  naviuMlors  and  Mdvt  ir/ie.and  these 
are  all  she  ever  made.  ( )f  all  the  discoveries  of  each 
iinlion  I  hase  L'iven  oiilv  the  outline,  the  dales  and 
pIfK'es,  when  and  where,  and  hy  whom  they  were 
madf  .  Want  of  lime  compels  nit!  to  omit  the 
details. 

Mr.  CliMirmiu),  a  caref^il  and  accurate  examina- 
tion, nil  analysis  and  comparison  of  the  aiHheiitic 
evideiicfs  of  the  title  of  the  iire.seiil  claimants,  as 
the  saiiK!  is  found  in  the  loij;-liooks,  journals,  and 
contemporaneous  wrilniL's  of  the  several  navi- 
irators  and  otheis  who  discoverid  and  explored 
ill, It  country,  will  fully  sustain  tlw  ruth  of  this 
proposition:  that  tli"  Pwiiiaiors  of  I5iilain  never 
made  an  oriiiiiial  di.sc,.,,ry  of  an  important  [inrt 
of  the  territory  in  dispi  '  .  That  her  navij^alors 
made  exploralion.s  •  *"  pi  'cts  previously  di.^covered 


Thence  lie  .sailed  north  to  .Nootka  Sound,  where    and  explored  hy  Spaniards  and  Americans,  will  noi 

he    landed    in  Ajail,   1778,  remained    there    near     '      '         '    ■     •  ■'    ■    '  - '- ;..:....i  .i.o_ 

one  monih,  refittiiiir  his  vissel,  and  supplyin:;  his 


he  denied;  hut  iliat  she  i;\vT  made  ,iii  ori-inal  iIih- 
covery  of  iinpculaiice  in  thu'  territory,  remaiiiH  vol 

Id  l,e  proved. 

.Mr.  Chairman,  le'  us  next  examine  the  Nootka 
conveniioii;  that  lieiin^  liie  other  lirunc.li  of  iJritish 
I'i.iinis.  .And.  sir,  wl.at  is  this  conveniion  '  By 
whom  was  it  made.'  And  can  any  rijzlit  or  title  to 
Cook  ((Mitinued  his  voya;,'e  until  tin;  ifilh  of  Fel)-  ;  the  sovereignly  or  the  soil  of  Orcijon  he  derived 
ruury,  177!),  when  he  was  killed  l.y  the  natives  at  from  or  pri!dicated  ii|>on  it.  It  \s  a  convenrion  en- 
Owylwe,  one  of  the  Sandwich  i.slaiids.  Fn^'land  tired  into  hy  Spain  ami  15riiain  in  17'.)(l.  'I'he  cir- 
(iun  ilaiui  nolhiiii;  from  his  discoveries,  f)r  the  rea-  cuni.^lances  liiat  sravt!  rise  to  this  convention,  and 
son  that  Pere/,  on  the  part  of  Spain,  had  '-dis-  which  are  hiiihl'- impcniant  to  its  true  interpretu- 
d,  visited,'' and  taken  [losscssion  of  Nootka,    tion,are  hiielly  these:  in  17.SH  two  trading  vessels 


ship  with  wood  and  >^-.  iM-,  and  trailniir  wiili  th 
natives.  Cook  took  pos.-'tssion  of  liie  place,  naiucil 
it  St.  Cieoriri  '•  May,  and  the  cove,  l''riendiy  Cove; 
thence  proceeded  north  on  his  voyiu:<',  hut  made 
no  further  discoveries  in  tlu!  disputed  territory. 

le  ifilh  of  Feh- 


eoverei 


in  1774,  four  years  hcfort;  Cook  (!ver  .saw  it. 


were 


fitted  oiit  at  Macao,  in  China,  for  a  tradinfr 


In  17«7,  John  Meares,  who.se  acts  are  iniiinate-  ex|iediti<ni.  Upon  one  of  them,  John  Meares  was 
lyconiiectt;d  with  the  Nootka  convention,  and  will  supercargo,  in  the  employ  of  a  I'ortuiruesc  mcr- 
he  ineniioiicd  hereafter,  in  the  capacity  :'r  super-  chant.  Slu!  sailed  iiniler  Portu^juese  colors,  was 
cariro  in  a  Portu:,niese  trading  ship,  visted  Nootka.  ;  comiiianded  hy  a  Portiisjuese  ca]itain,  her  passports 
In  1793,  Vancouver  visited  the  Straits  of  Fuca.  and  .sea  pajiers  were  made  out  in  the  Portutuicse  I  .n- 
This  was  two  hundred  years  after  Fuca  had  dis-  u'uau;e,  and  hy  authority  of  a  Portui^uest.'  colony, 
covered  the  f  iiirance  of  tin  se  straits,  and  three  ;  the  vessel  and  cari^o  heloiiiriui:  to  Juan  Cavello,  a 
years  after  Captain  Gray  had  sailed  into  them  tifty  \  Portuiruese  merchant.     In  17k'^  this  ship  (Felice) 

arrived  at  Nootka,  on  her  tradinc;  expedition,  four 
years  after  Perez  had  discovered  that  place.  Mf.arcs 
while  there  )irocured  from  Mariuinna,  an  Indian 
chief,  at  Nootka,  a^^rantof  privileije  to  use  a  small 
sj:ot  of  i;roun<l  in  Frieiuily  Cove,  upon  which  to 
con,>iruct  a  small  tradiiic;  ves.sel,  on  condition,  that 
when  he  Id't,  he  ( Meares')  would  surrender  the  same 


miles. 

In  1787,  Perlceley,  then  in  tiie  service  of  the 
.'\ustrian  Fast  India  f'ompany,  saw  the  Straits 
(if  Fuca,  hut  did  not  enter  them. 

In  I'l'VA  Alexander  Mi-Ken/.ie,  an  ai^ent  of  a  fur 
company,  passed  from  Fort  ('hippewayne  soulli- 
west  across  the  (country,  and  discovcied  the  head 


waters  of  the  river  Tacuchee  Tecse,  (now  called  |  hat  k  to  the  Indians,  v.  illi  any  l(uildina;s  he  mif^ht 

Frazer's  river,)  down  which  he  and  his 

lloated  in  cantics  two  hundred  miles,  the  _ 

streams,  passed  hy  land  westward  to   the  Pacific,  |  the  l''clice  was  landed  at  Nootka,  to  huild  the  pro 


where  he  lu'rived  iii  July,  1793,  in  latitude  5^^  Hi)' 
From  thence  he  returned  hy  land  to  Fort  Chip)ie 
wanj'c,  whence  he  had  started,  making  no  other 
dis(;ovcries.     So  little  was  known  of  this  stream, 
that,  u[»  to  1812  it  was  believed  to  he  a  branch  of 
the  Columbia,  when  it  was  discovered  to  be  a  sep- 


posed  craft,  and  Meares  .sailed  south  along  the 
coast  on  a  tradin";  and  cxplorim:;  excursion.  In 
July  followins,  Meares  returned  to  Nootka,  and 
ftiiind  there  two  American  ships,  the  Washinjrton 
and  Columbia,  before  mentionetl;  also  found  his 
new  vessel,  which  was  called  the  Northwest  Ame- 


I 


10 


rii'a,  ronstru.'lfd.  Mmirs  trmk  upon  his  vrss-cl  tlu; 
furs  lliut  had  hcen  collected,  mid  sailed  for  China, 
and  fronn  that  time  to  the  p  rsenf ,  John  Menres  lias 
never  seen  Nootkn  Sound.  Tlieotlier  two  vchsoIs, 
the  Ipliij^enia  and  Northwest  America,  spent  tlic 
foilnwinf!;  winter  at  the  Sandwich  Islands.  Mearcs 
had  promised  to  meet  this  ve.«.s('l  at  Noolka  in  the 
.-prmjr  of  1789,  to  pursnc  their  trade. 

At  this  time,  the  Spanisii  Government  had  be- 
come dissatisfied  with  and  jealou.s  of  the  frequent 
ai)p(;arance  of  foreign  vessels  on  the  Pacific  coast, 
over  which  she  claimed  to  he  the  exclusive  mis- 
trea.s.  She  therefore  commenced  more  vigorously 
to  prosecute  her  discoveries,  and  assert  her  rig;lits. 
Early  in  the  spritis;  of  17Hi»,  in  pin-siiancc  of  this 
determination,  Don  Manuel  de  Florrs,  then  vice- 
roy of  Mexico,  fitted  out  and  despatched  two 
armed  vessels,  with  the  necessary  implements  for 
settling  and  defending  Nootka.  These  vessels 
were  commanded  by  Martinez  and  Hero,  two 
Spanish  navigators,  "who  were  instructed  to  pro- 
ceed to  Nootka  to  take  possession  thereof  in  the 
name  of  Spain,  to  treat  with  civility  any  British  or 
Russian  vessels  that  might  come  to  Nootkn;  but, 
at  all  hazards,  to  assert  and  maintiiin  the  sovereiijn- 
fy  of  Spain  at  that  place.  On  the  (ith  of  May, 
1789,  Martinez  arrived  at  Nootka,  took  possession 
of  the  place,  landed  his  cannon,  and  other  materials 
for  setilement  and  defence.  On  his  arrival  there, 
he  found  the  vessels  Iphigenia  and  Northwest 
America.  They  had  arrived  on  the  20lh  April, 
178i),  still  sailing  as  Portuguese  traders.  He  also 
found  anchored  there  the  two  American  ships, 
Washiiiirton  and  Columbia.  After  taking  pos- 
session, he  informed  the  commandants  of  tlie  ves- 
sels lying  there  of  his  intentions  and  instructions. 
They  made  no  objections,  but  apjieared  satisfied 
with  what  had  been  done.  Things  remained  thus 
for  about  one  week,  when  Hero  arrived.  Martinez 
tlicn  demanded  an  inspection  of  tlie  papers  of  the 
Portuguese  ve.ssels,  which  was  gratited;  and  by 
the  translation  of  these  papers  from  the  Portuguese 
language,  Martinez  was  informed  that  they  Were 
instructed  to  take  all  English,  Spanish,  and  Rus- 
sian vessels  that  were  inferior  in  fon^e,  and  send 
them  to  Macao,  to  be  tried  as  pirates.  Martinez 
thereupon  seized  the  Ijihiocnia,  her  officers  and 
crew,  and  was  about  to  send  them  to  San  Bias,  a 
Spanish  port,  for  trial,  when  the  officers  agreed 
for  and  on  behalf  of  the  reputed  owner,  Juan 
Cavello,  that  if  they  were  released,  and  afterwards 
upon  trial  condemned,  the  condemnation-money 
fihould  be  paid;  and  accordingly  they  were  re- 
leased, and  soon  after  left.  In  June, "the  North- 
west America  returned  to  Nootka,  and  was  also 
immediately  seized;  but  aHerwards  returned  to  her 
owners.  It  afterwards  turned  out  that  these  ves- 
sels, although  sailing  under  Portuguese  colors, 
were  the  property  of  John  Menrcs  and  lii.s  asso- 
ciates, British  merchants  trading  at  Macao;  and 
the  piratical  disguise  had  been  assumed  for  the 
Durpose  of  defrauding  the  Chinese  revenues.  John 
Meares  then  left  the  coast,  and  arrived  at  Macao 
the  same  year.  These  merchants,  with  Meares  at 
their  head,  fitted  out  another  expedition,  the  .ships 
Argonaut  and  Princess  Royal,  commanded  by 
Colnott  and  Hudson,  two  Englisli  officers,  and 
sailed  under  English  colors.    On  the  2d  of  July, 


the  Argonaut  arrived  at  Nootka,  and  found  the 
Princess  Royal  tliere.  Martinez  demanded  an 
inspection  of  their  papers,  which  was  complied 
with;  and,  upon  inquiry  of  the  intention  of  their 
cxiicdition,  was  informed  that  they  intended  to 
erect  a  British  fort  there,  hoist  the  Briti.sh  flag, 
and  lake  possession,  Martinez  told  them  this 
could  not  be  done,  as  the  place  was  already  occu- 
pied by  Spain.  A  quarrel  ensued;  the  Spaniard 
arrested  the  commandant;  seized  the  .ship,  and  sent 
her  to  San  Bios  for  trial.  She  was  afterwards  re- 
stored by  Ciuadra,  on  the  ground  that  the  British 
commander  was  ignorant  of  the  Spanish  rijjhts. 
Under  these  circumstances,  the  Nootka  conven- 
tion originated.  Information  of  these  difficulties 
Iteing  communicated  to  the  home  Governments, 
England  and  Spain,  a  discussion  of  their  re- 
spective rights  was  commenced  at  London  and 
Madrid.  In  February,  1790,  the  Spanish  Minis- 
ter at  London  informed  the  English  Government 
of  the  capture,  and  requested  that  Government  to 
restrain  her  subjects  from  furtlier  intrusion  upon 
the  Spanish  settlements;  to  which  the  British  Min- 
ister replied,  he  would  not  negotiate  on  the  sub- 
ject, unless  immediate  re.slitution  was  made  for  the 
vessel  v.hicli  had  been  seized.  This  reply,  with 
the  circumstances  attending  it,  convinced  Spain 
that  England  had  other  designs.  Tiic  Spanish 
Court  became  alarmed;  and  another  note  was  ad- 
dressed to  the  British  Minister,  saying  that  Spain 
would  be  satisfied  if  Britain  would  command  her 
subjects  to  respect  the  rights  of  Spain  in  future. 

About  this  time  (May,  1790)  John  Meares,  now 
representing  liimself  to  be  a  lieutenant  in  the  Brit- 
ish service,  arrived  from  Macao  at  London,  with 
a  memorial  to  his  Government,  on  behalf  of  him- 
self and  his  associates  at  Macao,  who  were  also 
represented  as  British  subjects.  In  his  memorial 
he  set  forth  that  four  British  ships,  with  their  car- 
goes and  crews,  liad  been  seized  at  Nootka  by  an 
officer  commanding  two  Sfiaiiish  ships  of  war,  and 
sent  to  a  Spanish  port  for  trial;  also,  that  he  hud 
been  dispossessed  of  certain  houses  and  tracts  of 
land  at  Nootka.  This  information  the  King  of 
England  immediately  communicated  to  Parliament, 
denying,  at  the  same  time,  the  exclusive  rights  of 
Spain  to  the  territory  in  dispute,  and  asking  for 
supplies  to  prepare  for  war.  Negotiations  were 
closed  at  London  and  opened  at  Madrid  between 
the  tM'o  Governments.  Meanwhile  Britain  was 
making  extensive  preparations  for  war.  She 
equipped  two  large  fleets,  at  a  cost  of  <f 4 ,000 ,000. 
Spain  also  armed.  The  ulterior  designs  of  Britain 
to  wrest  from  Spain  some  of  her  American  posses- 
sions became  manifest.  The  Spanish  Government, 
to  avoid  difficulty,  proposed  to  submit  the  whole 
matter  to  the  arbitrament  of  any  of  the  Kings  of 
Europe  Britain  might  name,  and  to  satisfy  any 
award  that  might,  upon  substantial  proof,  be  made 
against  it,  provided  no  inferences  should  be  drawn 
from  this  offer  affecting  the  territorial  rights  of 
Spain  in  America.  This  projiosition  was  accept- 
ed by  Britain  as  to  the  indemnity;  but  coupled  with 
the  acceptance  was  a  demand  that  Sji.iin  should 
admit  that  British  subjects  might  fish  on  any  part 
of  the  Pacific  const,  and  trade  and  settle  on  any 
unoccupied  part  of  tlie  American  coast.  The  Sj)an- 
ish  Minister  proposed  to  admit  the  right  to  fish 


and  trad 
coast  so 
was  nji 
proposes 

of:u". 

tion  was 
.vhich  V 
gotiatio 
months, 
to  an 
anxious 
aniicab 
of  forty 
armed 
gr(.ss  ot 
and  all 
bloody 
she  mil 
thillg^^, 
than  an 
off  the 
some 
Briii.'^ 
he  bad 
toriiil  ( 


! 


11 


mill  trade  in  thr  open  son,  but  not  to  settle  on  the  i  ed  of  nny  Imusps  or  lands  nt  that  plarr.  Quadr.i 
(•nasi  south  of  the  51st  dep;ree.  This  pronositinn  '  inf|iiirnd  of  tlic  Indians  if  any  lands  had  l)i'en  sold 
was  njeeled  hy  the  liritish  Minister,  wlio  then  \  to  .Tol\n  IVTcares,  and  tin  y  rrpiird  there  never  had 
proposed  to  divide  the  territory  npon  the  ]iarallel  liren.  He  next  proeurcd  the  testimony  of  the 
of  :J1".  This  lieing;  rejected  by  Spain,  a  proposi-  i  Anieriran  captains,  Gray  and  Inu:raliuin,  who  tes- 
tion  was  then  made  to  divide  by  the  40th  parallel,  |  tified  that  tliey  were  at  Nooika  in  17SH,  and  also 
.vhich  was  also  promptly  refused  by  Snain.  Ne-  :  during  all  the  difficulties  between  Martinez  and  the 
tjotiations  had  now  been  continued  about  eight  :  IJritish  traders  in  1789;  that  they  could  converse 
months,  and  at  this  point  appeared  to  have  ronic  ;  perfectly  well  with  the  Indians,  and  never  heard  of 
loan  unfavorable  dose.  All  Europe  had  been  i  any  purchase  of  land  havins;  been  made  by  Meares. 
anxiously  watchins;  the  proj^rcss  of  this  attempt  at  |  Their  testimony  as  to  buililinc:^  was  taken  in  wri- 
ami<'able  settlement.  France  had  equipped  a  (leet  i  tin<r,  is  yet  extant,  and  i.s  as  follows: 
of  forty-five  sail.  Beljrium  and  Russia  were  also  |  "  On  the  arrival  nf  the  Columbia,  in  the  year 
armed."  British  statesmen  seeiuj;  the  fearful  pro-  '  17H8,  there  was  a  house,  or  rather  i  hut,  eonsisf- 
ijres.s  of  revolutionary  principles  on  the  continent,  '  insjf  of  roun'h  posts,  coverf:d  with  boards,  made 
and  all  Europe  armed,  they  clearly  foresaw  the  '  by  the  Indians;  bu«  this.  Captain  Douglass  pulled 
bloody  conflict  wliich  would  ensue,  and  in  which  '  to  pieces,  prior  to  his  .«?.i!ing  for  the  Sandwich 
she  must  necessarily  act  her  part.  In  this  statt^  of  |  '  l.slands,  the  .same  year.  The  boards  he  took  on 
things,  she  concluded  it  was  better  to  make  an  ally  j  '  board  the  Iphigenia,  and  tlic  roof  he  gave  to  Cap 


than  an  enemy  of  Spain,  and  tliat  she  would  put 
otTthe  settlement  of  title  to  the  Oregon  territory  to 
some  more  convenient  season.  Accordingly  the 
Uriii.^h  Minister  withdrew  the  y)roposition,  wiiich 
he  had  made  fixing  lines  and  boundaries  of  terri- 
torial divisions.     Negotiations  were  renewed  with 


'tain  Kendrick,  which  w.is  cut  up  and  used  as 
'  firewood  on  board  the  Columbia;  so  that,  on  the 
'  arrival  of  Don  Mrrtin."/,  there  was  no  vestige  of 
'  any  house  reniaining." — Proofs  and  Illuslrations 
to  (hrenlimo^s  Oj-fi-oo, /).  415. 

Vancouver  procured  testimony  of  Mr.  Duflin, 
Spain,  and  in  a  short  time  the  Nootka  convention  j  a  British  seaman,  who  said  he  was  with  Meares  in 
was  concluded  upon,  and,  on  the  28lh  October,  j  1788,  and  that,  on  the  17lh  May,  1788,  he  (Meares) 
1790,  was  signed  by  the  Plenipotentiaries  of  the  1  purchased  of  Marpiilla  and  Callicum,  two  Indians, 
two  countries,  at  the  Escurial,  and  Spain  became  j  the  whole  of  Friendly  Cove,  for  which  he  gave 
the  ally  of  England.  This,  sir,  is  briefly  the  liis-  |  them  some  sheets  of  copper,  and  other  trifling  ar- 
tory  of  the  INooika  convention.  The  next  inrpiiry  |  tides.  Meares's  own  journal,  pages  113-14,  has 
is  to  determine  the  true  intent  and  menninj^  of  this  ■  the  following  entry: 

treaty  by  the  ordinary  rules  ^.  construction.  Of  |  "A  present,  consisting  of  copper,  iron,  and 
what  nature  is  tliis  convention?  Is  it  commercial  I  «  other  jrratifying  articles,  was  made  to  the  cliicfs 
or  ttrritorial?  What  effect  has  it  upon  the  ultimate  j  '  Marpiiilaand  Callicum,  who,  on  receiving  it,  took 
territorial  riglits  of  the  [)arties?  I  shall  only  notice  ;  '  off  their  sea-otter  garments,  threw  them,  in  the 
so  much  of  it  as  tends  to  form  the  issue  I  made,  j 
tluit  our  title  to  Oregon,  south  of  Niotka,  is  abso-  i 
lute  and  clear.     Our  title  north  of  that  has  been  too  I 


'  most  graceful  manner,  at  our  feet,  and  remained, 
'  in  the  unaitired  garb  of  nature,  on  the  deck." — 
Toj/ogf, ;).  113-14. 

Not  a  word  about  land.  And  also,  on  page  114, 
llie  followinir: 

«'  Maquilla  had  not  only  most  readily  consented 
'  to  grant  us  a  spot  of  ground  in  his  territory, 


often  and  ably  argued  to  require  any  aid  of  mine. 
The  first  and  second  articles  of  this  convention 
provides  "  that  the  buildings  and  tracts  of  land  of 
'wliich  British  subjects  were  possessed  in  April, 

'  1739,  shall  be  restored,  compensation  made  for  i  '  whereon  a  house  miglit  be  built  for  the  accom- 
'  ships  or  merchandise  of  British  subjects,  which  |  '  modation  of  the  people  we  intended  to  leave  there; 
'  may  have  been  seized  or  taken  from  tliem  in  ]  »  but  had  promised  us  also  his  assistance  in  for- 
'1789."  The  fifth  article,  and  most  material  one,  I  '  warding  our  works,  and  his  protection  of  the 
is  as  follows:  i  <  party,  who  were  destined  to  remain  at  Nootka 

"Art.  5.  It  is  agreed,  that,  as  well  in  the  I  '  during  our  absence.  In  return  for  this  kindness, 
'  places  which  are  to  be  restored  to  the  British  j  « the  chief  was  presented  with  a  pair  of  pistols, 
'  subjects,  by  virtue  of  the  first  arti(;lc,  as  in  all  i  '  which  he  had  regarded  with  an  eye  of  solicitude 
'  other  parts  of  the  northwestern  coasts  of  North  |  '  ever  .since  on  inival." — Toyftgr,  p.  114. 
'  America,  or  of  the  islands  adjacent,  situated  to  j  Wliaf,  then,  becomes  of  Mr.  Duffiu's  evidence.' 
'  the  north  of  the  coast  alr>\'idy  o'ccufiied  by  Spain,  ;  Is  it  prcjbable  that  Meares,  in  1788,  .sailing  as  a  free 
'  wliercver  the  subjects  of  the  two  Powers  shall  i  trader  under  Portuguese  colors,  would  buy  lands 
'  have  made  settlements  s-ince  the  month  of  April,  i  in  the  name  of  Euirland  ?  Meares's  ov/n  journal 
'  17c9,  or  shall  hereafter  make  any,  the  subjects  of  contradicts  Duffin,and  shows  that  he  never  bought 
'  the  oilier  shall  have  free  access,  and  shall  carry  any  land,  but  that  he  merely  had  the  privilege  of 
'on  their  trade,  without  any  disturbance  or  moles-  building  a  vessel  on  a  small  lot  of  ground.  In  this 
'tation."  state  of  the  case,  Cluadra  very  justly  maintained 

(The  sixth  article  refers  to  South  America.)  |  that  Meares  never  po.sse.ssed  any  houses  or  lands  at 
To  execute  this  convention,  Britain  appointed  '  Nootka.  He  admitted,  that  by  the  convention, 
Vancouver  and  Spain  Q.uadra,  two  distini^uished  I  England  had  a  joint  right  with  Spain  to  make  set- 
navigators.  Tiicy  met  at  Nootka  in  August,  1792,  tlemi'iUs  and  trade  north  of  Nootka,  but  not  south, 
each  under  instructions  from  his  Government,  '  After  long  negotiations,  these  commissioners  could 
but  neither  I'ul  any  description  of  the  "  lands  or  !  not  agree.  The  case  was  referrcil  back  to  their 
houses"  to  be  restored,  or  any  evidence  tliat  Brit- I  respective  Governments,  with  the  evidence  they 
ish  sulyects  had  ever  been  possessed  or  dispossess-  I  had  taken,  for  further  instructions;  having  agreed 


12 


thntNootkft  should  in  the  mean  time  he  consiileicil 
a  Spanish  sctticniont,  and  to  romaiii  in  tiio  jios- 
Bcssioii  of  Spain.  In  OctobtM-,  Vancouver  left 
.Nootka.  In  1794,  he  a2;ain  visited  Noolka,  and 
found  I]|-iii:adier  Alva,  a  S|)anisii  olTic.er,  in  pnsse.s- 
sion  and  conmiand  of  tlie  place;  Cinadra  in  the 
mean  time  havini;  died.  Vam-uiivcr  ii.ivini;  re- 
ceived no  furtlierinstriulinns  fniniliisGoviTiiiTient, 
he  returned  iioine  in  171)4.  Tiierc  is  no  autiienii<'. 
evidence  lliat  Nootka  ever  passed  from  tlie  jios- 
se.«!sion  of  Spain  to  that  of  Rn;;!and.  Ik'Isham, 
a  iJritisli  iiislorian,  .says  tliat  the  Spanisli  fia^^ 
never  was  strucl<,  and  ihat  the  torritnry  was  vir- 
tually aliandonedl)y  the  En<;lish.  What  inlcri^ri:- 
tation  was  p;iven  to  the  convention  hy  British 
statesmen  after  its  adoption  ?  I,et  them  sj.cak  for 
thenisclves.  (sharks  .Tames  Fox,  opiiosini;  the 
convention,  says:  "  What  did  we  oUject  to  Ijcfore 
'  the  convention  hut  to  the  indefinite  claims  of 
'  Spanish  America.'  Tliat  ohjection  still  remains, 
'  for  the  limits  of  Sjianish  America  were  .still  un- 
' defined." 

"  Thus  we  liad  girrn  up  all  r\e;ht  to  srttle,  except 
'  for  temporary  purj^oses,  In  the  south  of  the  Spmiif-h 
'  settlcincnls,  or  in  the  intervals  belii'cen  them,  if  they 
'  hapjiened  to  lie  distant.  We  had  olttaiiied  an  ad- 
'  mission  of  our  ri^ht  to  settle  to  the  north,  and 
'  even  tliat  we  had  not  olitained  with  clearness. 
'  As  Spanisli  settlcmcnis  were  the  only  mark  of 
'  limits,  s'lppose  we  were  to  meet  with  one  farther 
'  to  the  north  than  wo  expected,  and  a  disjuitf;  were 
'  to  arise,  whether  it  was  new  or  old,  it  would 
'  be  some  diiricultv  to  .send  out  our  builders  to  de 
'e,ide,"&e.— ;).  995. 

What  was  the  reply  of  William  Pitt,  then 
Prime  Minister  of  Ena;land,  and  the.  defender  of 
the  convention?  lie  .says:  "Althouf,^h  Britain  had 
acquired  no  new  ri!,Hits,shc  certainly  had  acijuired 
new  advautaijes."'  Thus,  sir,  it  will  he  seen  that 
Fox,  Pitt,  and  duadra,  put  upon  the  ,'itli  article  of 
that  convention  the  same  constructifin  we  now  [)ut 
upon  it — the  oidy  true  one  its  lanijuasi^e  will  admit 
of:  which  is,  that  Britain  had  precludeii  herself 
from  claimiiii^  any  territorial  rights  situate  to  the 
.south  of  the  parts  of  said  coast  already  (October, 
1790)  occupied  by  vSpain,  and  had  secured  nothini,' 
but  a  joint  right  with  Sj)ain  to  trade  in  the  country 
north  of  the  most  northerly  Spanish  settlements 
on  that  coast,  lea. -ing  the  question  of  sovereignty 
ill  abeyance.  If,  then,  I  have  shown  that  there 
was  a  Spanish  settlement  at  Nootka  on  the  28tli 
day  of  October,  1790,  that  John  Meares  liad  "  no 
tracts  of  land  or  liouses"  there  to  be  surrendered, 
and  that  the  possession  of  the  Spanish  fort  and 
settlement  at  Nootka  never  passed  from  Sjiain  to 
Britain,  the  conclusion  must  follow  that  our  Span- 
ish title  alone  is  good  against  Britain  U[)  to  that 
point — she,  by  the  terms  of  the  convention,  hav- 
ing relinquished  all  territorial  rights  south  of  that 
place.  If  Great  Britain  had  no  title  South  of  Noot- 
ka in  1790,  she  has  none  now,  she  has  ac(|uircd  none 
since;  and  we  take  up  the  question  of  title  at  this 
time — so  far  as  we  rely  upon  our  Spanish  title — 
just  where  Florida  Blanca,  the  Spanish  Minister, 
left  it  in  1790.  On  the  5ih  day  of  April,  11S24,  a 
treaty  was  concluded  between  the  United  States 
and  Russia,  by  which  the  division  line  lietween 
their  territories  in  Oregon  waa  fixed  at  5  J°  40' — 


Russia  on  the  north,  and  the  United  States  on  th(> 

'  .south,  of  that  line.     Theri,  .sir,   the  rights   (,f  all 

chiiinants  in  Oregon  have  been  (jxtinguished,  and 

acquired  by  the  Uniti'd  States,  except  that   of  the 

Knglisii;  ami  she  herself  has  thrice  graiUi-d  them 

;\way  to   others,  from   whom   wc  have  a<  (piired 

them.     In  the  sixU'cnth  century,  she  granted  all  the 

rights  she  then  had  to  iier  colonies,  and  confirmed 

the   grant   at   the   treaty  of  17K;J.     In   1714,  she 

grantt:d  all   to   Fr.ance  south  ol'  49°,  and  wc  now 

own  that.     In  1790,  she  extinguished  her  claims 

south  of  Nootka,  acknowledging  the  right  to  be 

,  in  Spain,  and  we  now  hold  Spain's  riirhis.     Add 

to  these  our  own  title  by  discovery  and  setilenient, 

and    by  explorations,   contiguity,    and    inevitable 

destiny,  and  you  have   before  you  the  Anii'rican 

title  to  Oregon,  which  vests  in   the  United  States 

:  the  absolute  and  exclusive  title  south  of  Ni>otka, 

i  and  also  the  l>ctter  title  north  of  iliat  point.     Sir, 

:  wt!  hold  too  clear  and  strong  a  title  to  Ore^jon  to  be 

j  bullied  out  of  it,  and  too  high  and  valuable  a  her- 

;  itage  there  to  be  bought  out. 

Mr.  Chairman,  two  things  yet  rem:iin  to  be  brief- 

'  ly  consideri;d;    first,  our  conventional  stipulation.-j 

!  with   England  touching  Oregon  ;  and,  sei-ondly, 

;  some  of  the  objections  urged  against  the  passage  of 

!  this    resolution.     Our    conventional   sli|mlations, 

:  what  are  they .'     I  will  endeavor  to  show.     At  the 

Ghent   treaty,  in   1814,  amongst  other  important 

national  questions  which  were  left  unsettled,  Wiis 

I  our  northwestern  l)()undary.      Shortly   after  that 

i  time,  negotiations  v.pon  that  subj(>c,t  were  renewed, 

!  and  continued  up  to  the  year  1818,  without  arriving 

!  at  any  satisfactory  conclusion.     On  tlhe  i20lh  of  Oc- 

I  tober  of  that  year,  a  convention  for  the  joint  use 

of  the  territory  was  concluded  between  the  United 

States  and  Great  Britain,  to  prevent  difficulty  and 

collision  between  the  citizens  and   subjects  of  the 

two  countries  who  might  inhabit  that  country,  until 

the  question  of  tith;  should  be  settled  by  their  rc- 

'  spective  GovormneiUs:  of  which  conveiitioa  the 

j  third  article  is  as  follows:  « 

j      "  It  is  agreed  that  any  country  that  may  be 

j  '  claimed  by  either  party  on  the  northwest  coast  of 

j  '  America,   westward    of   the   Stony   Mountains, 

I  '  sliaii,  together  with  its  harbors,  bays,  and  creeks, 

j  '  and  the  navigatini  of  all  rivers  within  the  same, 

I  '  be  free  and  open  for  the  term  of  ten  years  from 

1  '  the  date   of  the  signature   of  the   present  coii- 

'  vention,  to  the  vessels,  citizens,  and  subjects  of 

'  the  two  Powers:   it  being  well  understood  that 

'  this   agreement  is  not   to  be   construed    to   the 

'  prejudice  of  any  claim   which  either  of  the  two 

'  liigh   contracting  parties   may  have  to  any  part 

'  (jf  the  said  country,  nor  shall  it  be  taken  to  aU'ect 

'  the  claims  of  any  other  Power  or  State  to  any 

'  ))art  of  the  said  country;  the  o.ily  olijcct  of  the 

'  high  contra(;ting  parlies,  in  that  respect,  being  to 

'  prevent  disj^utes  and   dilferences  among  thcm- 

'. selves." 

This  convention  of  joint  use  continued  in  force 
near  ten  years  more  of*  fruitless  negotiation;  when, 
on  the  6lh  day  of  August,  18:27,  another  conven- 
tional agreement  was  made  by  the  negotiators  of 
the  two  Gover.nments.  By  tin;  first  article  of  th ; 
convention  of  18:27,  tin;  third  article  of  the  con- 
vention of  1818  was  extended  indefuiittty.  The 
second  article  provides  that  either  of  the  contract- 


m 


1 


Siatns  on  i\^(^ 
riiiliLs   (,f  all 

IL^'uisllC'd,  (liul 

I.  tli.il  uf  the 
!;niiit(^d  tlicin 
;iV(!  ar([iiire(] 
granted  all  the 
nd  coiifirmod 
111  1714,  she 
I  and  \vc  now 
d  iiir  clahiKs 
e  ri^ht  to  he 
riirlus.  Add 
1(1  sciilcnuMit, 
lid  iiH'vitahJe 
lie  American 
United  States 
1  of  Nootka, 
'.  point.  Sir, 
Oregon  to  be 
iuahle  a  iier- 

iri  to  he  hrief- 
I  sti|)iilationd 
d,  secondly, 
he  |)as.sa2;e  of 

stipulations, 
low.  At  the 
er  iin|iortant 
nsettled,  was 
ly  after  that 
ore  renewed, 
hoiit  arrivinjjj 
m;  :2Uih  of  Oc- 
tlie  joint  use 
m  the  United 
lirtk'ulty  and 
hjects  of  the 
ountry,  until 

by  their  re- 
iivei.tioa  the 

luit  may  be 
^vest  coast  of 
Mountains, 
,  and  creeks, 
in  the  same, 
years   from 
iresent  eon- 
subjects  of 
erstood  tlial 
■iM'd    to    the 
of  the  two 
t'i  any  part 
ken  to  allect 
tate  to  any 
bject  of  the 
ect,  beinjj  to 
iioni,'  llicm- 

led  in  force 
itioii;  when, 

er  coiiven- 
i:;otiators  of 
•tide  of  th ; 

if  the  eon- 
ii;</iy.  The 
le  contract- 


13 


ing  parties  can,  at  any  time  after  the  20th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1838,  by  j;^ivin£;the  other  party  twelve  montlis 
notice,  annul  and  abrop;ate  tiiat  convention. 

The  third  article  provides  tlint  nothing  contained 
in  this  convention  shall  be  so  construed  as  in  any 
manner  to  affect  the  claims  that  cither  party  may 
have  to  any  territory  west  of  tlie  Rock  y  Mountains. 
This  convention  settled  no  territorial  rights  of  sov- 
ereignty or  soil,  but  was  a  mere  temporary  ex[)e-  ; 
dierit;  leaving  by  its  own    terms   the    (juestion  of 
territorial  limits  and  title  in  abeyance.     At)rngate  ; 
this  convention,  and  in  what  situation  do  you  place 
the  riglils  of  the  United  States  in  Oregon  .'     Sir,  we 
will  then  be  restored  to  the  enjoyment  of  our  ri'^hts 
as  they  were  on  the  (Uh  day  of  October,  ]y]8,  and 
on  that  day  we  had  not  only  the  right  of  properly  • 
and  the  right  of  possession,  but  the  actual  posses- 
sion.    On  the  14th  day  of  February,  181^,  it  was  ' 
admitted  by  Lord  Casilereairh  that  we  had  a  riglit 
to  be  reinstated  in  the  [xissession  of  Astoria,  and  to 
be  the  jiarty  in    possession  while  treating  of  the 
title,  and  for  whicn  purjiose  his  written  order  was  ; 
issued;  which  was  duly  executed  by  delivering  to  ' 
us  the  possession  of  Astoria  and  the  Columbia  on 
the  Cih  of  October  following.     But  unfortunately 
for  American  interest  in  Oregon,  on  the  20th  of  tlie  , 
same  month  this  convention  of  joint  use  was  made  ' 
nt  London,  without  knowledge  that  Astoria  had 
been  surrendered,  and  by  which  Great  Britain  was 
allowed  the  joint  use  of  all  the  country  ehiimed  by 
Us  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  together  with  the  ' 
harbors,  bays,  creeks,  and  navigable  rivers  thereof.  ■ 
Had    Great    Britain   any  rivers,   harbors,    bays, 
creeks,  or  territory,  there,  for  us  to  possess  in  com- ; 
mon  with  her?    No,  sir.    There  was  but  one  great  I 
river  there,  which  drains  all  Oregon,  and  that  is  , 
the  Columbia.     Great  Britain  admitted  our  right  | 
to  the  possession  of  that  stream,  and  by  her  written  l 
order  we  obtained  it  fourteen  days  before  this  con- 
vention was  signed.    Great  Britain  liad  no  harbors, 
bays,  or  creeks,  in  Oregon  for  us  to  enjoy  in  com- 
mon with  her.     Tlie  convention,  in  its  inception, 
was  altogether  one-sided.     Wc  gave  all,  and  got 
nothing.    Sir,  I  want  this  convention  abrogated.    I 
desire  to  be  freed  from  its  trammels,  and  that  our 
Country  be  restored  to  the  riglits  she  possessed  be- 
fore its  adoption.     What  has  been   the  practical 
efi'ect  of  tliis  convention  r    Wiiy,  sir,  it  has  brought 
Us  nothing  but  the  bitter  fruits  of  disappointment. 
It  drove  our  citizens  from  Oregon,  and  converted 
American  soil  into  a  British  province.     It  gave  to 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  the  exclusive  jkisscs- 
lion  of  Oregon,  and  the  undisturbed  emoyment  of 
its  trade  and  commerce  for  a  quarter  of^^a  century. 
It  deprived  us  of  the  benefits  of  the  rcstonuion  of 
Astoria  under  the  treaty  of  Glient.     It  rendered 
atill  more  complicated  our  difficulties  with  Eng- 
land: it  added  new  coloring  to  lier  pretensions,  by 
lapse  of  time,  and  she  now  sets  up  against  us  that 
by  it  we  admitted  she  had  rights  in  tliat  country. 
Sir,  it  has  been  the  source  of  unmitigated  evil  to 
diir  interests  in  Oregon,  and  for  a  time  destroyed 
dl  we  had  there,  except  our  right  to  the  country. 
These,  sir,  are  the  fruits  of  this  convention  and 
**maKlerly  inactivitiy  for  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

Mr.  Chairman,  we  have  tried  masterly  inactivity 
long  enough.  We  want  no  more  of  it.  We  now 
Want  a  little  masterly  activity.    Up  to  the  year 


181B,  the  greater  part  of  the  trade  of  that  country 
was  in  the  hands  of  American  citizens;  but  tho 
uii[)rotected  citizen,  under  the  operations  of  this 
joint-use  convention  and  the  withering  influence  of 
masterly  inactivity,  was  unable  to  withstand  tho 
encroachmcnl.s  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company, 
backed  uj)  and  supported  by  the  masterly  activity 
of  the  British  Government;  and  thus  the  exclusive 
possession  and  trade  of  the  country  fell  into  the 
hands  of  that  company.  Since  1837,  our  Govern- 
ment has  turned  its  attention  to  Oregon.  Our 
western  pioneers,  encouraged  by  the  action  of  Gov- 
ernment, connneiu'cd  as  early  as  18.39  to  return  to 
Oregon.  .As  the  measures  of  the  Government  pro- 
gressed, the  tide  of  emigration  increased,  until  we 
now  have  in  Oregon  some  seven  thousand  citizens, 
wfio  have  formed  llDurishiiig  settlemciita  at  Willa- 
mette and  Wallawalla,  and  claim  our  protection. 
We  can  grant  them  no  adequate,  permanent,  or 
exclusive  riijiits  or  lumie.',  until  this  convention  is 
abrogated.  But,  say  gentlemen,  if  you  give  this 
notice,  you  will  iiroducc  a  war.  Tliat  caa  afford 
no  just  cau.se  of  a  war.  It  is  a  treaty  stipulation, 
and  we  have  a  right  to  exercise  it  at  all  times,  and  so 
can  Great  Britain.  But,  say  they,  what  will  you 
do  then?  Why,  sir,  we  will  extend  our  laws  and 
jurisdiction  over  ourcitizcns  in  Oregon,  and  throw 
around  them  the  sliield  and  protection  of  the  Gov- 
ernment. Can  Great  Britain  com[iIain  at  this? 
Certainly  not.  What  has  she  done  for  iicr  Hud- 
son's Bay  Company?  In  lG6i),  King  Charles  71, 
of  England,  granted  a  charter  to  this  company  *o 
trade  on  Hudson's  Bay.  This  company  increased 
in  power  and  importance,  and  stretched  itself  across 
the  northern  region  of  this  Continent.  In  1819, 
by  the  influence  of  the  British  Parliament,  the 
Northwest  Company  was  united  with,  and  now 
forms  a  part  of,  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  On 
the  21st  day  of  December,  1821,  by  an  act  of  Par- 
liamem.  Great  Britain  granted  to  this  Hudson's 
Bay  Company  the  exclusive  privilege  of  the  trade 
and  commerce  of  Oregon  for  twenty  years,  down 
even  to  the  Mexican  line,  excepting  from  that 
grant  only  the  right  of  American  citizens  to  trade 
in  conmion  with  that  company,  under  the  conven- 
tion ;  and  by  the  same  act  .sue  extended  her  laws  and 
jurisdiction  over  Oregon,  estalilished  her  judicial 
triliunals  therewith  civil  and  criminal  jurisdiction. 
In  1838,  that  privilege  was  continued  for  twenty- 
one  years  more.  Yes,  sir;  British  laws  liave  been 
in  full  force  in  Oregon,  ever  since  1821,  and  are 
yet  in  full  force  tiicre.  True,  they  do  not  attempt 
to  enforce  their  criminal  laws  against  our  citizens; 
but  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  found  other  means 
just  as  efTectuai  to  drive  our  citizens  out  of  the 
country.  Sir,  our  citizens  have  now  returned  to 
Oregon,  they  demand  our  protection:  and  will  we 
give  it?  Yes,  sir,  we  will;  but  wc  will  go  no 
further  with  our  laW;  whilst  this  convention  ex- 
ists, than  Britain  has  gone.  But,  sir,  two  separate 
and  independent  sovereignties  cannot  long  co-exist 
in  peace  in  tlie  same  territory.  Again,  wc  are  ask- 
ed, will  you  csUiMish  your  forts?  I  answer,  yes. 
We  will  estalilish  a  cordon  of  block-houses  and 
stockade  forts,  from  tlie  upper  Missouri  to  the 
Rocky  Mountiiins,  for  the  protection  of  emigrants, 
granting  prospective  pre-emptions  of  lands  to  set- 
tle, at  each  fort,  that  provisions  irwiy  be  supplied j 


14 


I 


and  wc  will  place  there,  our  mounfed  riflemen,  to  i 
pro^c('t  tlicm.    Can  Britain  complain  of  this?   No,' 
sir.     Wc  are  told  she  lias  now  thirty  forts  in  Ore-  ! 
con,  upon  which  floats  the  banner  of  St.  George,  j 
Should  our  citizens  settle  and  improve  the  coun-  . 
try,  Britain  cannot  complain.     She  has  nindo  n  ' 
ficttlement  at  Pugct  Sound,  in  latitude  47°,  on  the  ■ 
most  inland  arm  of  the  sea,  and  which  is  destined  | 
to  lie  one  of  the  greatest  commercial  emporiums  I 
in  that  cotintry.     Sir,  some  gentlemen,  who,  but  ' 
a  few  weeks  since  were  as  brave  as  Caesar,  when  a  ' 
certain  other  territorial  question  was  pending,  whii-h  | 
has  now  been  happily  consummated,  .«aid  to  the  ; 
helmsman  of  the  snip  of  State,  "»/Vc  Hnus  Cainarem  ! 
ff/m,"  and  who  were  then  ready  and  willing,  not  ; 
•inly  to  fight  England  and  France,  for  their  interfer-  i 
encc,  but  to  fight  "  the  world  in  arms,"  have  by 
some  unseen  and  mysterious  influence,  almost  in  the  ! 
twinkling  of  an  eye,  become  the  converts  to  peace  ! 
nud  the  alarmists  of  power.     A  change  has  come 
over  the  spirit  of  their  dream.    Sir,  for  the  last  five 
v.'ceks,  at  the  opening  of  our  session,  every  morning 
a  British  lion  has  been  introduced  into  this  Hall,  to 
shake  his  gory  locks  in  our  faces,  and  awe  us  into 
submission.     Shall  we  take  counsel  of  our  fears, 
and  surrender  at  discretion  ?    Sir,  that  beast,  pow- 
erful as  he  may  be,  is  not  invincible.     Had  Sam- 
son taken  counsel  of  his  fears,  he  never  would 
have  met  and  slain  (he  beast,  and  won  and  wore  the 
prize  of  his  achievement,  or  sipped   honey  from 
the  prostrate  carcass  of  this  monster  king  of  the 
forest. 

Gentlemen  hr.v-e  not  stopped  here  with  their 
pictures  of  to-,  or.  They  have  told  us  of  the  vast 
dominions  of  British  possessions;  that  the  sun 
never  rises  or  sets  upon  her  dominions;  uo  matter 
in  what  clime,  her  banner  floats  in  the  breeze, 
and  the  peals  of  her  drum  greet  the  ear  around 
the  circle  of  the  glolie.  They  have  counted  her 
ships  and  numbered  her  cannon  and  her  battalions 
of  infantry.  They  have  told  us  she  holds  the  strong 
places  on  every  continent,  and  the  commanding 
islands  on  every  .sea;  that  Giliraltar,  INTuIta,  and  the 
Dardanelles,  are  hers;  St.  Helena,  Good  Hope,  the 
Indies  and  China,  are  her  outposts;  the  Bermudas 
in  the  Atlantic,  the  Sandwich  and  Falkland  Ishnds 
in  the  Pacific,  were  her  resting  places,  within  stri- 
king distance  of  our  shores.  That  she  encircles 
us  on  the  north  and  east  by  the  Canadas,  New 
Brunswick,  and  Nova  Scotia;  and,  to  appease  her 
rapacity  for  dominion,  we  arc  now  to  give  her 
Oregon,  and  thus  to  shut  ourselves  out  from  the 
Pacific,  and  hem  us  in  on  the  west.  Are  lliese 
the  arguments  of  American  statesmen,  in  an  Amer- 
ican Congress?  No,  sir,  they  arc  the  arguments 
of  fear.  Yes,  the  very  arguments  the  British 
Government  desire  to  hear.  Create  alarm  and  di- 
vision at  home,  and  encourage  her  obstinately  to 
press  her  pretensions  :  you  accomplish  for  her 
what  she  cannot  accomplish  for  herself.  You  hear 
no  such  arguments  in  lier  councils;  her  advocates 
and  alarmists  appear  to  be  on  this  side  the  water. 
Sir,  is  it  possible  t?\.t  that  rock-girt  speck  of  an 
"ocean  isle,"  lashed  by  the  waves  of  a  northern 
sea,  can  hold  the  world  in  chains,  and  the  nations 
of  the  east  in  fear  and  bondage !  That  she  has 
power,  will  not  be  denied;  but  that  she  is  invinci- 
nle,  cannot  be  admitted.    The  giant  monster,  clad 


in  his  panoply  of  steel,  was  slain  by  the  striplin;- 
shepherd  boy.     Sir,  what  mean  these  arguments 
of  gcnthinen?     Do  they  tend  to  prove  our  title  or 
dis{irove  the  claims  of  Britain?    No,  sir.     Why, 
then ,  are  they  used  ?    They  are  the  echo,  in  words, 
of  the  same  arguments  by  which  the  British  Gov- 
ernment intends  to  force  her  demands,  by  the  pro- 
mulgation of  her  military  preparations.     They  an 
the  arguments  of  arms,  which  silence  the  voice  of 
reason  and  coerce  submission  to  unjust  and  un- 
founded demands.     Who  ever  knew  Britain  tn 
negotiate  on  any  important  question,  for  centuries 
past,  without  first  arming,  and  promulgating  to  th' 
world  that  she  was  armed?    History  doeu  not  fur- 
nish an  instance.     Sir,  how  and   by  what  means 
has  she  extended  her  dominions?    In  the  very 
same  manner  and  by  the  same  means  she  now 
seeks  to  get  Oregon.     Some  straggling  smuggler, 
such  as  .T<ihn  Meares,  or  some  marauding  free- 
booter,as  Drakc,eitlier  by  choice  or  accident,  lands 
upon  some  unsettled  shore;  remains  a  short  timr 
for  temporary  purposes  of  trade  or   repairs;  he 
takes  possession  of  the  country  in  the  name  of  hi.-; 
sovereign.     No  matter  who  has  discovered  or  cx- 
jilored  the  place  before  him,  he  returns  to  England 
with  a  long  and  false  account  of  important  discove- 
ries. England  wants  the  country ;  she  makes  a  grant 
to  some  colony  or  corporation;  if  their  intrusion  bo 
resisted  by  another  nation,  upon  better  title,  Eng- 
land arms,  and  then  proposes  negotiation;  but  ii 
her  claim  be  too  new  and  fragile  at  that  time  tn 
bear  investigation,  or  she  is  otherwise  eiigagwl,  a 
final  division  of  territory  and  adjustment  of  claims 
is  waived  for  the  present.     Some  diplomatic  con- 
vention is  proposed  and   agreed  upon,  by  whicli 
Britain  is  kept  in  possession,  and  in  which  art 
artfully  interwoven  extensive  terms  and  complica- 
i  ted  conditions,  to  form  the  germs  of  future  contro- 
j  versy.     For,  sir,  it  has  become  a  maxim  that  Bri 
]  tain  never  makes  a  treaty  without  planting  in  it  the 
I  seeds  of  its  own  dissolution     Time  rolls  on.    Hei 
claims,  Ijy  time  and  circumstances,  ripen  into  what 
;  she  then  calls  treaty  rights;  she  refuses  to  go  back 
of  her  conventions,  plants  herself  upon  them,  in- 
'  sists  uptm  the  execution  of  their  terms  as  she  con- 
strues them.     If  she  cannot  entirely  monoiiolizo 
the  country,  at  some  convenient  time  tor  her  slu 
!  renews  negotiations  to  settle  boundaries,  projioscs 
I  arbitrary  and  unfair  lines  as  a  compromise,  with- 
1  out  regard  to  the  justice  or  injustice  of  the  origin 
I  of  her  claims.     If  her  demands  be  not  yielded  lo, 
she  arms,  publishes  in  her  gtizettes  that  her  fleets 
are  equipped,  her  garrisons  supplied,  the  regiments 
filled,  and  tlien  shakes  her  trident  at  the  world, 
and  demands  a  categorical  answer,  and  thus  co- 
erces negotiation,  and  she  dictates  the  terms  of  the 
treaty,  always  being  sure  to  have  the  lion's  share. 
She  now  attempta  to  make  that  experiment  upon 
us.     Will  wc   submit?    She  has  planted  heivselt 
upon  the  Nootka  convention,  and  construes  it  in 
her  own  way,  without  ever  looking  to  the  entire 
want  of  any  just  claims  to  base  it  upon.     In  1788, 
Jolin  Meares,a  Portuguese  smuggler,  visits  Nootkn 
and  builds  a  boat.     In  1790  John  Meares  is  chan- 
ged into  a  British  lieutenant,  and  his  claims  have 
grown  into  "tracts  of  land  and  houses."    In  1815 
this  claim  luvs  ripened  into  a  national  right,  and 
that  too  without  either  settlement  or  possession. 


s 


15 


liy  the  striplin;- 
lese  arguincms 
ove  our  title  or 
fo,  sir.     Why, 
eclio,  in  words, 
he  Britisli  Gov- 
iiis,  by  the  pro- 
ons.    They  an 
rice  the  voice  of 
unjust  and  un- 
new  Britain  tc 
)n,  for  centuries 
mulgnting  to  til' 
iry  doea  not  fur- 
by  wiint  means 
?    In  tlie  very 
ncans  she  now 
i,'ling  smuggler, 
maruudin;];  free- 
r  accident,  lands 
ins  a  short  tinif 
or   repairs;  he 
tlie  name  of  hit^ 
iscovered  or  ex- 
,urna  to  England 
portantdiscove- 
be  makes  a  grant 
heir  intrusion  be 
jetlcr  title,  Eng- 
gotiation;  but  if 
at  that  time  tn 
wise  engagwi,  a 
stment  of  claims 
diplomatic  con- 
upon,  by  which 
(1  in  which  arc 
IS  and  coniplica- 
if  future  contro- 
maxim  that  Bri 
)lanting  in  it  the 
e  rolls  on.    Hei 
ripen  into  what 
\iscs  to  go  back 
upon  them,  in- 
rnis  as  she  con- 
.'ly  mon(>i)oliz( 
ime  for  her  she 
laries,  proposes 
npromise,  with- 
ce  of  the  origin 
not  yielded  to, 
s  that  her  fleets 
d,  the  regiments 
at  the  world 
and  thus  co- 
the  terms  of  the 
he  lion's  share, 
speriment  upon 
planted  henself 
construes  it  in 
iig  to  the  entire 
jpon.    In  1788. 
r,  visits  Nootkn 
VIeares  is  chan- 
his  claims  have 
laes."    In  181.3 
oiial  right,  and 
or  possession. 


In  1845  it  h.is  grown  into  a  joint  r'^ht;  a  tenantry 
in  common  in  an  empire  territory  at  nine  hundred 
niiir.s  in  extent,  of  which  she  now  demands  par- 
tition. 

Sir,  the  possession  of  a  large  part  of  the  Brit- 
ish empire  was  acquired  by  the  terror  of  her  arms; 
and  is  held  at  this  day  by  the  same  tenure;  with  her 
metals  in  cannon  and  in  coin  she  frightens  the 
timid  and  bribes  the  venal.  Her  long  career  of 
national  aggression  has  justly  entitled  her  to  the 
appellation  of  "  plunderer  of  nations  and  the  rob- 
ber of  the  world."  Sir,  I  would  not  be  so  unwise 
as  to  underrate  the  power  of  her  arms  or  the  dii)lo- 
macy  of  her  Cabinet.  I  would  carefully  study  the 
prowess  of  her  achievements,  the  strength  of  her 
arms,  the  history  of  her  aggressions,  the  princi- 

()les  of  her  policy,  and  the  mode  of  its  execution; 
)Ut  never,  sir,  no,  never!  while  I  had  a  country 
of  my  own,  or  a  heart  to  love  it,  would  I  become 
the  eulogist  of  her  grealne.ss,  the  jiander  of  her 
interests,  or  the  apologist  of  her  crimes.  No,  sir; 
rather  would  I  turn  to  the  historic  pages  of  our 
revolutionary  sires,  who  achieved  our  independ- 
ence and  founded  our  institutions,  and  learn  frcmi 
them  the  price  of  our  national  freedom,  and  the 
true  principles  of  policy  to  preserve  them.  Rather 
would  I  contemplate  the  glory  of  our  achieve- 
ments by  land  and  sea  in  the  war  of  1812.  Rather 
would  1  trace  the  growth  of  our  ])owcr  and  the 
perfection  of  our  policy  from  that  tune  to  the  pres- 
<'nt,  and  carefully  examine  and  compare  our  pres- 
ent strength  with  that  of  our  adversary,  and  then 
calcul  ite  the  chances  of  success.  It  is  alike  un- 
wise to  exalt  or  depreciate  the  power  of  your  ad- 
versary, or  vaingloriously  to  boast  or  cowardly  to 
disparage  your  own. 

Mr.  Chairman,  one  passing  remark.  Should  I 
ever  be  so  unfortunate,  cither  by  choice,  accident, 
or  in  obedience  to  the  behcstof  some  superior  lead- 
er, as  to  find  myself  placed  upon  the  nnti-American 
side  of  any  great  national  question,  I  trust  I  shall 
never  seek  extrication  from  that  position  by  avail- 
ing myself  of  the  aid  of  any  of  that  ephemeral 
."spawn  of  venal  scribblers,  who  infest  every  capitol 
and  pollute  every  paper.  But,  sir,  some  gof  tlemcn 
tell  us  this  Is  a  President-making  question.  I  have 
but  a  .■'ingle  remark  upon  that  subject.  If  any  of 
the  aspirants  to  the  succession,  or  their  friends, 
seek  })romoti'"'  ♦o  that  high  office  by  gambling 


with  the  right.s  of  their  country,  or  the  integrity  of 
her  soil,  upon  the  political  chessboard,  they  will 
find  the  waysides  of  the  road  to  the  White  House 
streveil  with  dead  politicians.  The  American  peo- 
ple will  never  by  their  auflVagcs  elevate  any  man 
to  office,  who  won  d  promote  his  own  personal 
a^graiiJizeinrnt  by  abandoning  or  sacrificing  the 
interests  of  his  country.  Sir,  we  are  told  that  thia 
is  a  westi.rn  question,  and  that  western  men  com- 
pose a  war  party.  What  advantage  does  the  West 
gain  by  maintaining  our  rights  in  Ore.gon,  more 
than  the  East.'  None,  sir,  none.  Nay  more,  the 
eastern  cities  would  be  the  largest  gainers.  When 
the  means  of  communication  and  the  channels  of 
trade  are  opened  up  and  established,  connecting 
the  Atlantic  cities  vith  those  of  the  Pacific,  and 
these  commercial  points  are  bound  together  by  the 
ties  of  interest,  of  kindred,  nnd  of  blood,  will  not 
the  commercial  men  of  the  East  have  a  much  great- 
er iutoreU  in  Oregon  than  the  agriculturists  of  the 
western  valley.' 

Sir,  the  western  people  are  a  peaceable  people; 
they  de.sire  no  unjust  war,  no  war  of  aggression. 
They  full  well  know  and  appreciate  the  devasta- 
tions and  horrors  of  war,  and  also  the  blessings  of 
peace.  They  rejoice  in  the  maintenance  of  that 
peace;  but,  sir,  it  is  not  with  the  joy  of  fear.  They 
would  forbear  long  and  endure  much  before  they 
would  destroy  our  peaceful  relations  with  the 
world.  But  they  will  never  consent  to  purchase 
that  peace,  dear  as  it  may  be,  by  a  sacrifice  of  na- 
tional honor  or  national  interest. 

Mr.  Chairman,  we  say  to  those  gentlemen,  be 
just,  and  fear  not;  ascertain  clearly  the  extent  of 
our  just  rights  in  that  country;  demand  no  more, 
take  no  less;  "ask  nothing  but  what  is  clearly 
right,  submit  to  nothing  that  is  wrong."  And  we 
say  further  to  them,  that  the  friends  of  Oregon 
will  never  consent  to  barter  one  acre  of  it.s  soil, 
nor  one  tree  of  its  forests,  to  which  we  have  a  good 
title,  for  coiton-hogs  or  corn-laws,  calico  prints,  cod' 
fish,  or  fancy  slocks.  But  should  war  come  of  this — 
should  the  sword  once  be  drawn — I  would  advise 
my  countrymen  to  throw  away  the  scabbard,  and 
never  sheath  that  sword  until  the  last  bloody 
track  of  the  British  lion  was  blotted  out  from 
American  soil,  nnd  his  last  talon  cut  loose  from 
the  continent.  He  is  at  best  but  an  unwelcome 
and  damrerous  neighbor. 


